Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-07-11
| RUSSIA IS WILLlNG
TO COMPROMISE IT.
Cars Government Would Remove
RstaIlatory Duties Under
Certain Conditions.
WE MUST REsclND OUR ACTION
Denand Is That United States Revise
Tariff on sugar-Gage IL Opposed
to Taking step-Courts to
Settle lt.

Washington, July 11.-Another I'M
portant exchange has occurred between
the Russian government and the United
States relative to the tariff. The Rus
sian minister Of finance, M. de White,
has proposed that Russia will vacate
all Of the additional duties leveled on
American goods since the imposi-
ton Of the sugar differential, IL the
United States will vacate its action on
the sugar differential. To this Secre-
tary Gage has replied that the offer Of
the Russian government cannot be ac-
cepted, as the matter OF the sugar diff
ferential is now in the hands of the
court, thus precluding action by the
executive branch. These exchanges,
although made nominally by the min
lister Of finance and Secretary Gage.
have gone through the medium Of the
Russian foreign Office and the state de-
partment.
The proposition Of the Russian min
lister Of finance was the direct result Of
Secretary Hays note Of about two
weeks ago. In that note Mr. Hay point
ed out that the action taken as to pc
troleum was not new, nor was it meant
to have any connection with the pre-
vtous action Of the governmenton sugar.
This appears to have strengthened the
Russian officials in their view that the
petroleum order was only another step
in the policy previously taken respect
Ing sugar. Accordingly M. de Whites
response was communicated to Wash
ington, Count Lamsdorff forwarding
it to NJ. de Wollant, the Russian charge
here. 1t is not long but it Is quite to
the point 1t makes no further issue
as to the petroleum order. The chief
attention Is given to sugar, and the
specific offer is made to vacate imme-
diately the increased duties which Rus
STA has levied If the United States will
vacate its action on sugar. This would
amount to re-esta blishing the status
quo which existed before the United
States took its initial action relative to
Russia.
The Russian proposition was duly
communicated to Secretary Gage, who
responded promptly that as the sugar
question is now before the courts, 1t
is not possible for him to avail him.
self Of the Russian suggestions. Thus
the matter stands.
The reductions which would have re-
suited under M. de Whites tender are
those affecting cast iron wares, man
ufactures Of iron and steel and boiler
work, tools for artists, factories and
workshops, gas and water meters mo-
tors and dynamos. sewing machines,
portable engines, not including thresh-
ing machines. fire engines and other
machinery Of iron and steel, also white
resin, galipol. brewers pitch and BIZ
cycles. The increased duties on iron
and steel goods followed after the i'm
position of the sugar differential, while
those on bicycles and resin followed
the Increase on petroleum. M. de
Whites proposal was to take off all Of
the increased duties. In the course Of
his letter, 1t is stated that the second
retaliatory move on bicycles and resin
was not due to the American action
on petroleum, although 1t had so APP
peared in the original Russian note.
but that 1T related back to the Amer
lean action on sugar.
This is thought to be the result Of,
Secretary Cages reply to Russia to
the effect that it's action in increasin
the duty on American bicycles AM.
resin was violation of our treaty
With that country.