The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-20
In Believed To Bc Such Discrimination
as Is Provided Against in the
Convention of 1892.
TREATY MAY BE DENOUNCED
AND PROHIBITIvE TARIFFS BE EN-
FORCED BY BOTH COUNTRIES.
United states Not Wholly BlameIcss-
Congress Alone Has Power to
AmeIioratc Conditions.

WASHINGTON. June 19.-The situation
as to the retaliatory war between the
United States and Russia is such that the
next move must be made by the United
States IL the contest is to be pursued.
Secretary Gage, in his letter, raises the
question whether the Russian government
has not infringed the rights of the
United States under treaty. Article of
the treaty of commerce with Russia of
1892 reads:
mo higher or other duties shall be i'm
posed on the Importation into the United
States of any article. the produce man.
ufacture OF Russia, and no higher or other
duties shall be imposed on the importation
into the empire of Russia of any article.
states than are, or shall be, payable on the
like article being the produce or manufac-
ture of any foreign country"
BY levying maximum duties on United
States bicycles, resins and machinery and
specially designating them as United States
products. the Russian government has, it
Is not doubted, just made such a discrim-
fnation as is provided against in this
ticle OF the treaty. The question is raised
however. whether, by our action in levying
a duty on Russian petroleum and specially
describing IL as such. the United States
government has not also violated this ar
treaty. but under the common practice of
International law a country may denounce
the whole of a treaty where it is satisfied
that one OF it's provisions has been pur-
posely broken. II such extreme action is
taken IN the case there will be no trade
treaty between Russia and the United
States, and far as Russia is concerned
the maximum tariffs, which are practically
prohibitive, would apply to all imports
II such action by Russia is regarded as
discrimination. the United States govern
ment may. by existing law, exclude any or
all imports from Russia
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador
in discussing, to-day, the latest phases of
the tariff issue which has arisen between
Russia and the United States, said that the
issues do not seem TO him TO be very grave
and he is hopeful that they will be satis-
factorily adjusted. He said that the action
of Russia is economic move pure and
simple and Is quite certain that it is due
20 no antagonism against the United States.
Count Cassini said that no political sig
nificance could attach to a matter of a
purely commercial nature. He said he
knew nothing OF any European movement
against American products.
Count Cassini further said: Each gov
ernment undoubtedly is acting according to
its views OF what the situation requires,
and not in any general spirit of antagon-
ism. America is recognized as a great
commercial nation, and the splendid prod
ucts OF Its Industry and inveptiOn are well
COmed 10 Russia. On the other hand. II is
desirable that this exchange shall be
tual and reciprocal and if this view pre-
walls there is no doubt that American goods
Will continue to be welcomed in Russia"
The matter, he said, should have no possi-
bic political significance. being of purely a
commercial nature, and Russia's action
certainly had absolutely nothing to do with
any European movement against American
goods.
Treasury officials protest against the as
sumption in some quarters that the depart
ment has taken up the question of the duty
on petroleum imported from Russia and
decided IL adversely TO that country, we'll
knowing that little or no petroleum is
brought from there into the United States
Since the Dingley tariff act went into op-
Grafton the officials say the department
never has directly passed upon the question
at issue. The act itself makes IL obligatory
upon the authorities to impose a corre-
spending duty on petroleum or its products
imported from any foreign country which
imposes duty on the American article but
treasury officials say nothing done as
to importations from Russia until Jan. 2S
1901. when the board of general appraisers
at New York held that petroleum produced
in Russia and imported into England, there
refined and thence imported into the United
States was dutiable at a rate equal to the
rate imposed by Russia petroleum i'm
ported into that country from the United
States. and. further. that the provisions of
Paragraph 626 of the act or July "A, 1897 (the
Dingley tariff law. apply TO the country
where the oil is produced and not TO the
country OF expectation. This decision, it is
contcnded at the Treasury Department. is
the only one which could be made. in view
of the plain wording of the law. The only
other action in regard TO the importation
of petroleum, treasury officials say. which
has ever been. taken by the department.
was that of March .. 1901. which required
invoices of products OF crude petroleum TO
be accompanied by the United States con-
sular certificates showing the place where
the petroleum contained therein was pro-
duced. No reference whatever. il is said at
the department. Is made TO any particular.
save calling attention 10 the decision of the
board of appraisers AS far n the depart
ment knows. not a dollar I'm the United
States has been collected on Russian pc
troleum imported direct nor was the action
of March 9. il Is claimed. taken with any
special refence TO that country.