New-York tribune., 1903-08-08
RrssLA ANn AMERICAN GRAIN.

A bit of news comes from Berlin which, de-
spite its ''semi-otf1cal authority, would seem
incredible were it not for certain precedents
which make its truth not only possible but
probable 1t is to the effect that Russia insists
uDon inserting an anti-American clause in the
new commercial treaty with Germany which
she is now negotiating. The existing treaty be-
tween those countries expires by its own limita-
tion with the present year. and the making of a
new one. instead Of q renewal of the old one. is
necessary because of the radical changes in the
German tariff. The existing treaty assures to
each party the treatment given to the most
favored nation. Now. Russia is reported to de-
mand in the new one as an Indispensable con-
dition to the making Of it, that Germany shall
discriminate grossly against the United States
and also against Argentina-the two great grain
producing countries of the Western Hemisphere,
and therefore RussiaS chief rivals in the grain
trade. The new German tariff law provides for
minimum and maximum rates Russia's de-
mand is that Germany shall agree to admit
Russian grain at the minimum rates, but shall
impose the maximum rates upon American and
Argentine grain
The purpose of that demand is, of course,
obvious. 1t is to exclude American grain from
Germany and TO give Russia a monopoly of the
German market. Germany is a large purchaser
of grain, especially of wheat, oats and corn.
She purchases every year large quantities of
those grains from the United States and from
Argentina as also from Russia. German i'm
ports of breadstuffs from the United States
amount to about $25,O00,OOO a year in value.
Those from Argentina are much less. but still
considerable. Statistics of imports from Russia
are not so exact and detailed as from America,
but they indicate that purchases OF Russian
wheat amount TO from four million to five mill
ion bushels yearly, which is much less than the
quantity got from America. Russia is large
producer and exporter of grain, often sending
millions of bushels to foreign markets at the
very time when her own people are dying by
thousands of famine, and her production,
through the opening OF Siberia by railroad, is
rapidly increasing beyond the demand of her
foreign markets. Hence her desire TO monop-
olize the German market. That desire is legiti-
mate enough provided it be attained by legiti-
mate means. But the legitimacy of her present
proposal is at least open TO question.
Germany is by far Russia's largest customer,
considerably outranking even the United King
dom, and selling Russia nearly 40 per cent of the
latters imports and buying about - per cent Of
her exports, while American trade with Russia
is insignificant On the other hand, Russia is
not Germany's chief customer, but stands about
fourth in the list, being surpassed greatly by
the United Kingdom and by Austria Hungary,
and considerably by the United States. Thus
Germanys purchases from the United States
are little more than from Russia, while her
sales to the United States at least 1T per
cent more than to Russia. Therefore. it seems
to be permissible 10 doubt whether Germany
will agree thus to discriminate against Il better
customer for poorer one. Whether she does
so or not. such an attempt 10 persuade her to do
so will not commend the maker of it 10 Amerf-
can favor.