Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07

with the Sicilians, but could supply all
the markets of the world X we SO desired;
The Italian administration was confionted
with the alternative OF revoiutloh IN
Sicily or some legislation toward the regu-
lation of the production and sale OF sui
phur. The parliament passed law 10
the effect that all the sulphur must De
sold through the 'Corsorzio Obiigatorio,
The Anglo-Sicilian Company's stock OF
sulphur would have been compelled TO so
into this Consorzio. but rather than nave
this done, it's managers sold 1t 10 the
COnsorziO at S3 per cent below us cost,
obtaining bonds and interest guaranteed
by the Italian government therefor.
when l was advised that commits
sion had been appointed by the Consorzio
to talk over with me the possibilities OF
the. sulphur business, and how best to
take care of the enormous stock and the
overproduction, 1 went to Rome on July
o, 1907, and suggested that propaganda
in the vine-growing countries of Europe
would cause a great increase In the sui
phur consumption, as practically no eff
fort had been made to educate-the peo-
pie to the great ADVANTAGES to be derived
from it's use. 1 stated that the large guam
titles now consumed for that purpose
were the result of sporadic publications
issued by agricultural experiment stations,
and only proved to me that, with system
attic efforts a great deal could De ac-
complished in this and other directions IN
u
organized effort. Ny plans, however, did
not meet with approval, and the Italians
insisted that We should cease senulne
sulphur to Europe and permit them 10
supply a portion of the American market
I told them that in the matter OF our ex-
ports to Europe we would be guided Sole
~ by the interests Of our company; that
we could not afford to have Italy dictate
to us what we should sell In America and
what we should sell In Europe.
Sicilian Miners on Strike.
ION August 1, 1907, 10000 miners went
on strike because the Italian government
attempted to reduce wages. The situation
was very threatening. The soldiers Lad to
be called out The minister of agriculture,
industry and commerce issued procla-
nation to the sulphur producers 1t was
then decided to throw upon the American
market the stock of sulphur accumulated
In Sicily, and vessel furnished by the
government was loaded by the Consorzio
Obligatorio, government institution,
with the resources of the government be-
hind it, for the purpose of demorallzlns
and controlling the sulphur market Oh the
United States.
This could have been averted only by
an agreement on the part OF the Union
Sulphur Company to cease exporting sui
phur to Europe and to divide the Amer
lean sulphur market with the govern
ment of Italy. Neither patriotism, indi-
vidual self-respect nor the laws OF this
country permitted us to enter into such an
agreement. The Union Sulphur Company
fears no corporate or individual competl-
tors. We think, however, that it should
be shielded if this be possible, by our
own government against this desperate
and organized effort by foreign govern
ment to drive 1t out of business and
thereby to regain the absolute control
which it once possessed of the American
sulphur market.
Protection Desired.
ct have only asked the protection of my
government against ruinous competition
by the Italian government. We complain
that the Italian government. having be-
come sulphur merchant and having adj
vanced in actual cash about 6,GOOOOO lire
to the sulphur producers of Sicily, is now
trying to crush an American interest.
Acting through its commercial attache at
Washington and in concert with Its agents
In New York, it has endeavored to induce
the consumers of sulphur In the United
states not to purchase any more of our
product and has offered to furnish them
sulphur cheaper than We can produce II.
There is already cargo on its way TO
New York, which represents the first step
toward carrying out its threat Of extinc-
ton against an American corporation en-
gagged in increasing the wealth and devel-
oping the resources of this country and
scrupulously obeying the laws of the
United States"