The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-16
A Russian on Russia's Asiatic Trade

Two years ago M. FEDoRoFF, one Of
the members of the Advisory Committee
on Tariff Affairs in the Russian Ministry
of Finance, and director of the Riazan-
Orel Railway, undertook to prepare a
statement Of Russia's commerce in Asia.
This report has just been published by
the Russian Society for the Study of the
Orient, and it is interesting
According to it Russia stands only
sixth in the trade Of China; but M. FEDo-
Rolf sees the opportunity for lettering
her position in the fact that she has be-
come the principal purchaser Of Chinese
tea since Indian tea has taken its place
in the English market. He counts also
upon the Siberian Railway, with its
branches, creating new avenues and de-
mands for Russian goods in the not
distant future
The Bagdad Railway will not, he
thinks, seriously interfere with the de-
velopment Of Russia trade in northern
Asiatic Turkey, on account OF the lines
being carried 80 far to the south. He
does not, Of course, say anything about
the cause of the delay and final decision
to take that route, but it was for long
time matter Of anxious discussion be-
tween the governments of Russia and
Germany, the latter finally accepting
the Russian view OF the ubiect. He
has no apprehensions of danger to Rus
sia's wheat trade from the opening of
lower Asia Minor to the worlds wheat
market through the building Of the
German railway, and regards the Black
Sea and ans-Caucasus land routes
az giving Russia a preferential position
over all competitors in the uplands of
| the north.
The Importance of the Persian market,
he says, is absurdly exaggerated, but
Russia already has 40 per cent. of it
and is devoting her efforts to improve
her position. The poverty of the Per-
sian people, however, prevents a rapid
development and the market is already
overstrained The English competition
need give rise to no special anxiety.
The most interesting section of Mr..
FEDoRoFF's statement is unquestionably
that relating to India. While he depre-
| Gates the efforts made to create mistrust
| of Russia aims as regards that country,
he makes it evident that any opportuni-
ties that may offer to introduce Russian
trade into India will not be neglected.
He treats al absurd the suggestion of
any desire in Russia to relieve Great
Britain OF the burden she is carrying in
India, whose population, he declares,
English misrule has exasperated almost
beyond endurance He gives many
reasons for believing that Russia has no
intention of invading India. No serious
minded person, according TO him, re-
CARDS such an invasion as practicable,
although there are some enthusiasts at
St. Petersburg who dream Of the con-
quest OF India All the same, Russians
do not think it an impossibility, though
its SUCCESS would depend on the rea-
tons between the people Of India and
their conquerors and those between
the Russians and Afghans.
On the whole, NJ. FEDogoFF concludes
that Russia by acting as a passive spec
tator, and by the mere fact of her neigh
borhood exercising a psychological in
fuence on the British Indian Admins
tratlon, would gain far more than by any
aggressive action. He would even make
an alliance with England for he sake
Of the British and Indian markets.
As Russian commerce has, AS yet. 40
footing In Japan and Corea he favors
a vigorous sTort 10 get hold on their