Evening star., 1901-06-26
Claimed That No Bounty is Paid on
Sugar Exports.
DECLARATION 10 STATE DEPARTMENT
Extra Duties Imposed Pending an
Investigation.
A CA S E LIKE RUSSIA'S

An official statement from the italian gov.
ernment has been communicated to the
state Department to the effect that Italy
pays no export bounty on sugar. This &C.
ton by the Italian authorities follows eight
DAYS from the issuance of Secretary Cages
treasury order suspendng the Liquidation
or all sugar imported from or produced In
Italy, on the ground that the treasury had
information leading to the belief that Ital.
ian sugar received a bounty Mr.. Cages
order was dated June IL. The action Of
the Italian government was communicated
BY cable to the Italian embassy here and
was made known to the acting secretary Of
state DIR. Hill, by Mr.. Carignani, the Itai.
Ian charge d'afraires.
Secretary Cages order.
Mr.. Cages circular did not state post.
lively that Italy paid an export bounty. but
said that it appeared highly probable that
this was the case, and accordingly the
liquidation of sugar accounts with Italy
were suspended pending further investiga-
ton The declaration now made by the
Italian government does not appear to be
with any view Of raising a sharp issue but
rather to make known in explicit and off,
cial language that Italy does not pay this
bounty on sugar. The treasury order re-
cites:
In view of the information thus far re-
ceived as to the operations Of the law Of
Italy, not in force, concerning the excise
on sugar it.appears highly probable thai
sugar produced in that country receives I'M
direct export bounty as follows:
Sugar below 20 Dutch standard, SEQ
francs per 100 Kilograms.
Sugar No, 20 Dutch standard. 613 francs
per 100 kilograms
Pending further investigation of the
matter the liquidation of all sugars imporos
ed from or produced in Italy shall be susp
pended, and the duties shall be estimated
In amount sufficient to cover additional dltr
ties equal to the above specified duties
From the standpoint of the italian au.
thorities the foregoing order was doubtless
preliminary to one putting into effect the
dffferent1al rates against Italian sugar and
in consequence the official declaration Is
now submitted to the State Department.
that Italy pays no bounty on her sugar.
A Case Like Russia's.
The action taken by Italy raises ques.
tion somewhat analogous to that now pend
ing with Russia, each concerning sugar,
and each referring to the alleged payment
Of bounty. Russia has taken a position
that she pays no bounty. and Italy now
makes a formal declaration Of the same
kind. While this is not necessarily a proc
test, it presents an issue of fact as to
whether bounty is. or Is not, paid. 1t is
understood that within a week the italian
government Will submit a full presenta-
ton of facts sustaining the present declar
ration, the present announcement to the
State Department being merely brief ofis
cial notification Of Italys position without
the data to uphold that position.
The terms Of the treasury order are such
that the discriminating duties are now bes
ing enforced against Italy, for although the
order recites that the matter is still under
investigation, it concludes with the specific
instruction that 1.-The duties shall be este
mated In amounts sufficient to cover add,
tional duties equal to the above specified
duty" These additional duties referred to
are SEQ francs (or about S1.12), In one case,
and 6.13 francs (or about $122) In the
other case. The duties, therefore, are In
effect without further order, although the
terms of the order indicate that the pers
manency Of the increased duties is subs
tect to the fuller investigation to be made
Other Countries Interested.
The representatives Of other foreign couns
tries are observing the course Of Russia
and Italy with much interest. 1t was
stated in one of these quarters that the
usual rule in a question OF doubt vast
Dams de doubt, abstiens toi," that is, In
case of doubt abstain" But 1t is pointed
out that In this case the extra duties have
been assessed pending the investigation
which is to settle the question OF douos
involved.