The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-08-13

EACllOll VI Nllt AAul OlSdll 4 ONSl Ss
WASHINGTON, July 2S-Through |
the United States charge of embassy at |
st. Petersburg, Mr.. Riddle, the state |
Department has just received a copy !
of the Russian note touching upon
trusts which has excited so much COM
ment in Europe This note, which
takes the form of a circular was lden-
teal, and was handed in St Petersburg
to the representatives. of all the powers
that participated in the Brussels sugar
conference, and in addition to Mr.. Rid
die for transmission to his government
at Washington.
Just why this was done, in view of
the fact that the United States govern
ment was not represented at the Brus-
sells conference, can only be CONJECTURE
ed, and it is supposed that it was sup
piled as a matter of information and as
courtesy. Certain it is that in the
present view the United States execu-
| tive cannot participate in such a con-
ference as is described, because of
constitutional limitations that cannot
be escaped, even if there were no other
| objections.
| From perusal of the note, which is
in official print, it appears that it's re-
! ferences to trusts, which are rather
incidental and alternative in character
have attracted the principal share of
! public attention, although the whole
note appears to be framed as an argu-
ment in support of the Russian system
of regulating sugar production anu ex-
port. This is summed up in one signi
| ficant sentence as follows: The Rus
| sian government cannot bring itself to
regard the provisions Of the Brussels
! conference in reference to the countries
granting an export bounty on sugar as
| applicable to ITSELF
The reference to an international
trust conference is actually, therefore,
presented in the shape of an alterna-
tive proposal or rather suggestion, only
in case the sOundness of the Russian
contention in support of its present sys-
tenn is successfully challenged
The State Department cannot do
more at this stage than it has done
namely, return a polite acknowledge
ment through Mr.. Riddle of the note
and watch developments in Europe. It
is not supposed that there will be at
once any action toward calling an
other congress, but rather that the dis
cussiOn as to the character of the Rus
sian system of regulation of sugar pro-
duction will proceed certainly up to the
date set for the application of the
| agreement reached at Brussels for the
| stoppage of sugar bounties and the eX-
clusion from Importation of bounty
aided sugars. That action will. it is
expected, precipitatae some decision uD-
on the Russian proposals.
The text of that part of the Russian
note. which is regarded as extending
the proposal for an International trust
congress is as follows
| But if it We're shown that an inter-
venton of this character by the gov
eminent in the conditions of industry
is obnoxious to the interest of interna-
tiOnaI trade or commerce, that even
such protection of home prices proves
a disturbance to the free action OF in
tenational competition, the Russian
government would readily enter, Jointly
| with the other powers, into a discus
sion of the various measures that could
be conducive in checking the several
means of influencing international mar
kets. 1t would not however, be in
clined to consider an agreement on this
point, unless the question should be put
in such a way as to cover the whole of
its scope; that is to say, if there were
undertaken an examination not only
of the results of direct measures by
the government, such as the creation
of bounties or the control of the produc-
ton but also the essence of various
syndicates (trusts) tolerated and pro-
tected by the government, and unless
the general convention should have for
its object not only sugar, but also other
leading staples of the international
trade of the present day.
In taking the position above explain
ed, the imperial government hopes that
the foreign governments will make nc
difficulty in taking it as an expression
of it's full consent to participate in any
joint action of the powers which would
aim to protect international prices
against artificial falls in regard ~ SUI
, gar, as well as other merchandise"