Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
RUSSIA AND WORLD TRADE.
DR.. Edward Bedloe Gives His Views on
Bears Eastern Raid.

DR.. Edward Bedloe Gives His Views on
Bears Eastern Raid.
From the Yokohama Advertiser.
Business men throughout the east are
troubled by the imminence of war, and are
moving cautiously in matters requiring any
length of time to work out. A representa-
tive group of merchants. importers and ex-
porters of foreign goods got together at
the Grand Hotel last night and talked over
the situation.
DIR. Edward Bedloe. whose long consular
experience in the east has put I'm thor-
oughly en- rapport with International busl-
ness as we'll as high politics, happened
along and was Immediately called upon 10
uation After bit of characteristic humor
DR.. Bedoe said to the great interest ana
edificaton of his auditors:
II have had no reason during the past
five years to alter the opinions express q
in my consular report of the year 1898,
which were in substance as follows: IL
must interest and concern our American
manufacturers and exporters to note the
extension of the Russian efforts to OBTAIN
territorial concessions from emma, ana
their possible effect on American trade In
the Chinese empire. The Importance OF tn
question to our manufacturers ana the
gravity of the issues involved are made
clearer by a retrospective V eW or RUSSIA
action in other parts of Asia VINE ne rus
sian merchants have had to meet Brltisn
competitors. Russ as success IN central
Asia in pushing her products ahead of her
rivals will undoubtedly be repeated IN
China with result serious to US where
our trade interests clash with hers in cot
ton goods kerosene and -four. The Russ an
system VIII be applied in China to all rlva 8
in trade. when the through railroad lire
enables Moscow manufacturers and mer-
chants to pour their products into the en-
pire OF China on terms and under condi-
lions which Russians will be in a pos ton
to fix as they please ..,.
"It is obvious that Russa's policy is and
has been not only the acquisition of an ice
free seaport like Port Arthur or Taienwan.
She has, for fifty years or more, been plan
ming to capture the rich markets of this
vast Chinese empire, and to accomplish
this it was necessary to run a railroad
through Siberia to convenient sea coast
port. open all the year. The concessions
granted by China under the convention OF
1895 were merely stepping stones for the
Muscovite trader to reach markets. 1t ap-
pears from the published text of the agree
ment which the Chinese government is al
legged to have made with the Russo-Chinese
Bank, that the Chinese bound themselves to
charge one-third less import duty on all
Russian goods entering China through Man
chura than is paid on similar products from
foreign countries landed at Chinese port
Export duties are reduced one-third in
favor of Russia. All Russian manufactured
goods intended for the Chinese markets are
charged lower transit dues than those ship
rangement for the preferential treatment of
Russias trade is serious matter for Amer
lean manufacturers and merchants In the
markets of the far east and deals a heavy
blow at American commerce
1.-The methods Russia has successfully ap-
piled In cutting into the British commerce
in other parts of Asia will. 1t is to be pre-
sumed. be employed in China. Reasoning
by analogy. we may profit by reference to
the records of British and Russian trade in
Khorassan and northeastern Persia. The
commercial reports dealing with the foreign
trade of Persia show how effectively the
Russian can kill trade in products of which
they desire to secure 81 monopoly in oriental
markets. where a dangerous competitor has
obtained footing. The British trade Jour-
nails have admitted the fact that the long
established business in Manchester piece
goods has been ruined by the Russians. not
by means of preferential rates for Russian
merchants or lower import duties or similar
acts of violation of treaty rights to which
execution could be taken but by rebate
on Russian imported cotton goods On every
pound of manufactured Russian cotton or
other goods sent into Persia the Moscow
manufact and merchant receives an al
lOwance from the government Of an amount
equal to three half-pence Sound money!,
which is more than sufficient to cover the
cost of freight amounting to just a half
penny per pound profit in freighD beside the
uspal profit on their goods
This rebate is. In fact. bounty paid to
the Russian mill owner and merchant
amounting to SO Oo000O annually.
which has effectively killed the trade In
British cotton goods in Persia as the grant
to continental beet sugar manufacturers
has ruined the industry of the West India
sugar cane planters. The Russian bounty
system has been applied in central Asia
and adjoining frontier lands. with the re-
suit that no foreign product which Russia
produces has been able to hold its own
In the eastern markets accessible to Russia
or within her sphere of influence" Com
petition has been killed by the device of a
countervailing grant or bounty. OF course
this rebate bounty system of Russia
does not come under the head of pref
erential duties hut 1t works wonders for
Russian trade. Why not help our American
trade by similar means?
THE Russian method. enforced in China,
will surely iniure our trade in OIL -four
piece goods and other products we send
to China, when once the Russians have
fully completed their railway across Siberia
and are in a position to supply the Chinese
markets with products of their own Eu-
ropean factories. The system of Russian
bounty will seriously affect our American
Kerosene interests. when II is extended to
oil tank trains through Siberia and Man
churia. bringing millions of gallons of the
Russian (Batum) petroleum to China We
will. of course. hold portion of the trade,
owing TO the superiority of our American
Kerosene, which Is so popular that the
agents of the Russian and Dutch oils put
up their goods in imitation of, and even
brand and label it genuine American
Kerosene This counterfeiting Initiating
and false labelling in China is not confined
to unscrupulous people in the oil business,
but immense quantities of goods made in
Germany and also from Belgium. are sent
to China and palmed Oft as American prod
ucts."