Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-23
RUSSO-AMERIcAN TARIFF.
Russia Chooses to Fight and Talks
Ironically to the Powers.
Correspondence of Associated Press.)

Correspondence of Associated Press)
ST. Petersburg. Wednesday, July 9
American business men in Russia are dis
posed to take a hopeful view Of the Rus
so-American tariff dispute, noR that FL
nance Minister White has announced 20
the signatory powers of the Brussels SUI
gar convention that Russia intends to OPP
pose the application of this convention
unfavorably TO Russian interests. If Rus
STA intends to persist in an absurd posi-
ton they are pleased with the prospect
of the conflict being extended to other
countries
Remarking that Russia is on the footing
of the most favored nation with ali the
powers that took part in the conference,
NJ. Witte declares that THE Russian gov
eminent would consider the application of
a discriminating tariff against Russian
sugar as a violation of her commercial
treaties. even if the expectation of SUI
sar was favored in Russia by premiums.
which is not the case.
The repetition of his arguments to prove
that Russia has not favored the eXporta-
ton of sugar by the joint operation of
excise rebates and complete domination
of every feature of the sugar. industry,
does not add to their force. The closing
passage of the note is, however. of inter
est as showing that M. White persists in
his conjunction of the sugar premium and
the trust questions.
Perhaps anticipating that the Russian
government will later proceed to the con-
troll of naturalization of other branches
OF industry. say tobacco, he lays down
the following as RuSSiaS policy:
Even if it were proven that an inter-
vention of this kind referring to the SUI
gar regulations on the part of the gov
eminent in the conditions of an industry
is injurious to the interests of interna-
toinal commerce, or even that such pro-
lection of domestic market prices inter-
fereS with the free course of internatiOn-
al competition the Russian government.
would willingly take part with other pow
erS in discussion of measures to para
I'VE the diverse means of influencing the
International market. However, it would
not be disposed towards an entente on
this point unless the question We're posed
in its widest sense. that is to say, unless
not only the results of direct govern
mental measures, such as the establish
ment of premiums and the regulation of
production. but also the Importance of va
rious syndicates which are tolerated or
protected by the various governments en-
tered into the discussion and unless the
convention had for it's object not only
sugar but also other products of import
ance in the contemporary International.
I'm taking this position the imperial
government hopes that the foreign gov
ernmentS will not refuse to find in the
policy here outlined its entire willingness
to take part in every collective action
Of the powers which would aim to pro-
tect the international prices of sugar and
other forms of merchandise against ar
tificial depression.
If Mr.. White We're rot a very great man
he would perhaps hesitate to send to nine
more or less considerable powers a note
couched in language that could possibly
be regarded as ironical.