The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-04-24
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tFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON D. O., April %.
Information has reached the State
Department which seems TO indicate
that Russia contemplates an effort to
restore the cordial commercial rela.
tons which for a considerableEpcrlod
existed between this country tandatlle
Muscovite empire, Nothing definite
on this subject is yet known, but GER
tain limitations have been made to
. Ambassador Meyer which afford
ground for the belief that Russia will,
In the near future, attempt to enlist
the sympathy Of the United States.
through whnt is sometimes called tho
pocket nerve 1t will be remember.
edEthat carly in the administration of
President Mckinley Russia attempt.
ed to Offset the tariff on her beet
sugar. for which the Dlngley law pro.
vided, by the payment Of bounty
10 her sugar producers. No sooner
did It become evident that this was
being done, however, than Secretary
Of the Treasury Gage brought the
matter to the attention OF tic Presl:
dent and with his approval Increased
u q
the duty on sugar imported from
Russia sufficiently to Offset the Rus.
sian bounty. Full authority for this
course was found In tho Dingley law.
No sooner had Secretary GRge 3or.
dered that an increased duty DO col.
lected on Russian sugar, however,
than Russia expressed her disapprov:
al Of his course, In somewhat undip.
lomatlc terms and De White, then
Russian minister Of finance, rotaliat.
ed by ordering that the maximum
tariff be collected on all Imports
from this country. Russla. 1t must
be understood, has adopted tho max.
imum and minimum tariff system
whereby the authorities can assess
n large or small tariff as i It deems
best. While this course on the part
Of the Russian authorities somewhat
curtalled the trade Of tho United
States with that Empire the loss was
not sufficient materially to concern
the United States and as the spirit
in which Russia acted was unques.
tionable captious, the Mckinley adj.
minIstratlon ignored It, as the Rooso:
welt administration has since done.
Now, however, Russia finds herself
in the midst OF disastrous war aud
almost without a friend in the Euro.
pean concert. France, the professed
ally OF the Muscoyitc empire, has
manifested extreme WEAKNESS Of the
unnatural compact she made; some
years ago, Great Britain has, OF
course, a treaty Of alliance with ia
pan and only Germany seems at all
friendly to Russia. Under these cir;
cumstances and with the probable ne.
cessily Of negotiating a treaty Of
peace in the near future Russia
doubtless hopes to enlist the sympa2
thy Of the United States and is seek.
Ing to acquire that end by efforts Of
consideration for American trade re.
lations. What the outcome may be
is hard 10 foretell. It's probable that
this country will refuse no just offer
OF preferment In Russia market. On
the other hand there Is little reason
to believe that such 3preferment will
have the effect Of Inspiring this
country to express any particular In:
terest In the arrangements which
Will follow tho close OF the war be.
You'd consistent inslstence that,
whatever else they do, they shall
maintain the open door in China and
preserve the administrative entity
Of tho Chinese Empire. jj \
Apropos Of Russia, there are some
Indications that Count Cassini, the
present Russian ambassador to the
United States, will not long retain
his present post. There are riimors
to the effect. that the willy. Russian
has made a faux pas inShis diplomatic
relations with Acting Secretary ii
State Taft and that 1t is OF such a
character as To- terminate his useful.
ness 70 his country in the capacity Of
the, personal representative Of EN-.
peror Nicholas, at,Washlngton. This
information comes from inside
sources although it is not precisely.
official but your Correspondent re-.
cards i as a safe prediction that there
will be q new Russian ambassador In
washington befnre Tho }onan IN ~ = q /, ~