Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-04-27

IRON Our REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENT)
Washington, April %, 1905.
Information has reached the State
Department which seems to indicate
that Russia contemplates an effort to
restore the cordial commercial relations
which for considerable period existed
between this country and the Musco-
vite empire. Nothing definite on this
subject is yet known, but certain init
nations have been made to Ambassador
Never which afford ground for the be-
lief that Russia will, in the near future
attempt to enlist the sympathy of the
United States hlough what is some
times called "the pocket nerve.' 1t
will be remembered that early in the
administration Of President Mckinley,
Russia attempted to offset the tariff on
her beet sugar, for which the Dingley
law provided, by the payment of
bounty to her sugar producers. No
sooner did it become evident that this
was being done, however, than Secreta-
ry of the Treasury Gage, brought the
matter to the attention Of the President
and with his approval increased the
duty on sugar imported from Russia
sufficiently to offset the Russian bounty.
Full authority for this course was
found in the Dingley law.
No sooner had Secretary Gage order
ed that an increased duty be collected
on Russian sugar, however, than Rus.
sia expressed her disapproval of his
course in somewhat undiplomatlc terms
and Dew lite, then Russian Minister of
Finance, retaliated by ordering that
the maximum tariff be collected oil all
imports from this cauntry. Russia 1t
must be understood, has adopted the
maximum and minimum tariff system,
wherahv the authorities can assess Il
large or a small tariff as it de, ms best.
While this course on the part of the
Russian authorities somewhat curtalied
the trade of the United States and as
the spirit in which Russia acted was
unquestionable captious, the Mckinley
administration ignored it, as the Roose.
welt administration has since done.
Now, however, Russia finds herself
in the midst of a disastrous war and
almost without friend in the Euro
pean concert. France, the protested
ally of the Muscovite empire, has man
ifested extreme WEAKNESS of the unnat.
ural compact she made some years ago.
Great Britain has, of course, a treaty OF
alliance with Japan and ouly Germany
seems at all friendly to Russia. Under
these circumstances and with the prob.
able necessity Of negotiating treaty OF
peace in the near future, Russia doubt.
less hopes to enlist the sympathy of the
United States and is seeking to acquire
that end by offers of consideration for
American trade relations. What the
outcome may be is hard to foretell. 1t
is probable that this country will re-
fuse no Just offer of preferment in Rus
STA market. On the other hand there
is little reason to believe that such pre-
ferment will haye the effect of inspir-
ing this country to express any partic.
ular interest in the arrangements which
will follow the close of the war beyond
consistent insistence that, whatever
else they do, they shall maintain the
open door III China and preserve the
administrative entity" Of the Chinese
empire.
Apropos of Russia, there are some
indications that Count Cssslni, the pres
ent Russian ambassador TO the United
States, will not long retain his present
post. There are rumors to the effect
that the willy Russian has made faux
pas in his diplomatic relations with
acting Secretary of State Taft and that
it is Of such character az to terminate
his usefulness to his country in the ca
pacity OF the personal representative of
Emperor Nicholas, at Washington.
This information comes from inside
sources although it is not precisely off
cial, but your correspondent regards it
as a safe prediction that there will be
new Russian ambassador In Washlug-
ton before the opening of another social
season.