New-York tribune., 1901-08-31
GERMAN AND RrSSLAN TRADE.

Tntimaiions are made ~ 81. Petersburg that
the Russian Government regards the proposed
new German tariff seriously and likely to
be enacted. and Is accordingly preparing to
meet II with reprisals Of the usual kind But
realizing the disadvantage at which Russia
would he In waging tariff war with Germany
single handed II seeks practical alliance with
the United States. thinking that the two coun
tries together could show themselves a match
for GERMANY Instead of waging a tariff war
against this country. then. Russia would make
a commercial alliance with II. and instead of
there being n European combination against
the United States n part Of Europe would he
combining with this country against another
part of Europe. Wa do not assume for
moment that the Russian Government has com
mitted itself to any such scheme, or indeed that
ii has it in mind. Nevertheless. the project is
actually broached in serious and authoritative
papers AT 81. Petersburg. and the fact that such
utterances arc permitted by the imperial censor
invests them with significance.
The scheme is of course. impossible The
United States docs not wage tariff wars. and II
does not ally itself with other powers for
waging any kind of war. II would greatly
regret 70 see Germany adopt n tariff hearing
hardly upon American trade. But it has had 70
face such conditions before this and has found
itself able TO cope with them successfully on its
own account, and without seeking the aid OF
any other nation. That it should now seek such
aid or that it should lend itself 10 be the CATS
paw of any other nation in commercial war
is simply nconcevable. Its aim is to cherish
honest friendship and impartial commerce with
all nations. And at whatever risk Of being
regarded as selfish 1t win continue to shape its
commercial policy on that basis and according
.rftl,
any rivaries, competitions or warfares among
any other countries.
Apart from these general principles, which
are paramount, there are cogent special reasons
why the United States could not enter into any
such ant-German alliance as that which is
hnted al at ST. Petersburg. They are found in
the figures Of our foreign trade. In the fiscal
year 1900 the United States had a commerce
with Germany amounting in value to nearly
S2S5. 100000 and one with Russia amounting to
only little more than S1S.000,00O. That is to
say, our German trade was worth nearly six
teen times as much as our Russian trade More
over, our German trade is rapidly increasing,
while our Russian trade, with the exception of
a temporary increase in Asiatic Russia, has
been about stationary for the last ten years and
more. Now, a country does not sacrlfice-If
sacrifice be necessary-the greater for the less
Even were the proposed German tariff adopted
1t stands, our trade with Germany much as
it would be injured, would still be worth many
times more than that with Russia
There is, however, no ground for talk of sac
rifice. The United States expects to maintain
friendly relations and mutually profitable com
mercial relations with both Germany and Rus
sia. 1t will not side with one against the other
In whatever differences they may have between
themselves. and It does not expect It's friendly
relations with one to initiate against the main
tenance of equally friendly relations with the
other. The st. Petersburg "vedomosti," which
is putting forth the impossible suggestion to
which have referred speaks sound sense
when 1t says that "the quicker Russia settles