The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-25
RUSSIA MAKES THREAT ALWAYS WITH
Possibility of Increased Duties
on All Articles.
PROTECT HOME MARKET
DIRECTED AGAINST U. S. AND
WESTERN EUROPE.

St. Petersburg, Feb. 24.-The semi
official Financial Messenger, in the
course of an article denying that sugar
exports enjoy an open or secret pre-
MUM from the Russian treasury,
points out that the charter of the su-
gar regime Of Russia. which fixes the
selling price for the home market at a
regularly reduced rate from year to
year, is intended to protect the Russian
consumer against the encouragement Of
expectation at his expense, and that if
secret export premiums exist at all,
they are due to the growing power of
trusts and syndicates in getting various
branches of production into their
power, with no other aim than TO MAIN
tain high prices abroad at the expense
OF the home market. The Journal de St.
Petersburg says:
win not a dangerous precedent be
created by the desire to prove at any
price that alleged secret premiums are
concealed by the Russian sugar re-
gime? If Russia employed the same
logic, she would, with even great justi-
dcation, be driven to impose counter
vailing duties upon cast iron, steel,
copper and other American products to
which the principle now being estab-
lished could be applied with equal jus
ttfication.
Russia would also be perfectly JUS
titled in applying this new procedure
not only against the United States, but
also against western Europe, as much
of this singular idea of the concealment
of premiums originated in no way with
the United States. 1t was first pro-
claimed by Europe at the Brussels con-
| ference in 1898; and it is only such an
idea, for which Europe is responsible
that Russia has to thank for an iniqui-
toUs act on the part of the friendly
| United States.
TT must above All not be forgotten
that this is a slippery path and that
| if it is pursued further, we too, shall
! inevitably proceed, without even await
| ing the expiration of commercial trea-
! ties, to similar measures not only with
regard to America but also with re-
| gard to Europe in the case of such pro-
| ducts as are controlled by syndicates
or other organizations and sold cheaper
abroad than at home.
Mutual Interests Considered
s4To such Incredible consequences one
| comes even at first glance when one
starts upon the solution of questions
| from unsOund principles, questions
/ which require above all the most absO-
| lutte Justice and consideration of mu-
/ tua1 interests if an understanding be-
| tween parties is to be maintained
| These articles which appear in the
| official organs Of the ministry of finance
| undoubtedly represent the views of the
| Russian government in the application
/ of the theory of concealed export pre-
! Tniums to trust-made products. Botl
] papers significantly hold western Eu-
! rope responsible for the theory, thus
/ tacitly admitting that the United State:
! acted under pressure.
7 They threaten trust-made European
! and United States products which are
/ sold cheaper abroad than at home witt
/ compensatory duties. They ignore a:
/ irrevelant the distinction between legis-
| lative and voluntary regulations of in
/ dustries.
The announcement of this doctrine
/ opens up wide fed of speculation
/ apparently presaging a transformation
! of the discriminating duties agains
] America into a general increase of du-
! ties on all articles, which enter largely
/ into the worlds commerce and are the
/ objects of the honest competition.
/ Russian industries would certainly
J welcome any excuse to increase the
| present high protection. During the ex-
! listing stage of the nation they have
/ bitterly complained whenever a foreign
! concern has secured a government or
! der; and they are continually demand
! ing favOrs of every kind, railway rates
| and the like, against foreigners. Pos
! sibIy. however. the inspired organs
! merely desire to illustrate in a drastic
way the dangers from the attempts o.
/ one state to interfere Indirectly witt
! the internal affairs of another.