The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-21
THE CARS LATEST SCHEME.

a dispatch from London says that the
proposition Of the Car for an international
antitrust conference does not excite great
interest there, because 1t is not thought
practicable or possible for the various Eu-
ropean countries to get together on any
common platform of controlling production.
The first impression at Washington was
that the movement was directed primarily
against the growing commercial supremacy
of the United States, and this view
received some confirmation by the fact the
United States had not been invited to be
represented at the conference. Secretary
Hay explained, however, that 1t would
hardly be worth while for this government
to send delegates to such a conference. as
they would have no power to commit the
government to any line OF action in a mat
ter that belongs so exclusively TO the juris-
diction of Congress as does the trust or
tariff question. The idea that the move
ment aimed at some kind Of commercial
alliance by European countries against the
United States seemed inconsistent with the
Cars steady friendship for this country,
and it is disputed by a representative Of the
Russian government in London. who, also,
says the United States will be invited to
/ join in the conference. The dispatch says:
| Serge Detatischeff. financial agent Of
/ Russia, said with reference TO the interest
/ of the United States in the project: I'VE
4 have no fears OF your American trusts.
/ They did not affect Russia In any degree
i whatever. What we do fear are the great
/ German manufacturing trusts. So far as
/ nfnTTr try n NC nod M 20
ment is mainly directed against German
/ trusts, but all countries interested broadly
/ in finding means for protecting commerce
/ against artificial depression. If signatories
| of the Brussels sugar convention, have
| agreed to be represented at the proposed
| conference. There is no doubt the United
/ States will, also, be invited to participate"
This frank avowal Of hostility to German
/ trusts is not calculated to enlist the hearty
/ cooperation of that government in the
| proposed conference. The statement quoted
would seem to confne the invitations to
the signatories of the Brussels sugar con-
vention, CT whom the United States was
not one but 1t adds: There is no doubt
the United States will also be in
vited to participate" IL so there is
little doubt that the invitation will
be politely and automatically declined.
The United States will paddle her
own canoe in business matters. We DO
not want any entangling alliances with
foreign nations. commercial or otherwise.
We have Jared pretty we'll thus far under
the policy of legislating for our own inter
ests, regardless Of those of other countries,
and we should continue to do
The proposition of the Car savors some
what of crankiness 1t looks a little as if
he wanted to identify himself with some
thing else than maintaining the principle
OF absolutism in Russia. A few years ago
when wheat was very low he suggested. in
a tentative sort of way, that the Russian
and American governments should buy up
the surplus crop at good price and hold
ii for a rise. The suggestion met with no
favor. The peace conference. which was
held on his suggestion did not accomplish
anything in the direction of universal dis
armament, though 1t did have good results
in promoting international arbitration and
in amelorating the laws and customs Of
war. The present proposition. besides be-
ing visionary, is out of the sphere OF the
Cars political influence as the head of a
state. Nothing could be gained by form
ing a government trust against commercial
trusts or a combination of crowned heads
against combinations of merchant princes
and captains of industry. If the Car
wishes to institute some really practical
reforms there is a fine field for them in
Russia. and he does not need TO ask the
cooperation of other nations, either.