The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-22
To Meet the Effect of United
States Action.
COURSE IS DEFENDED.
A Long Declaration of Facts Ac-
companies the Bill.
Attention Called to Uncle Sans
Exclusion of Foreigners.

st. Petersburg, Dec ga legisla-
| tive proposal to provide for tariff war
schedules applicable to the United
States at the expiration of the Russo
American treaty of commerce and
navigation of 1882 has been intro
duced into the duma by ex-Premier
/ Guchkof and others representing the
| Octrobist and Nationalist parties
which control the majority of the
duma-
The bill proposes to raise existing
| Russian duties by 100 per cent
also to impose duty of 100 per cent
on articles which are admitted free
under the present Russian tariff. Be
sides these impositions the bill pro-
poses also to levy double the gross
weight tax established by the law of
June 21, 1901. on merchandise arriv-
ing by sea and to levy double ton
mage tax Should the present Ameri-
can tonnage tax be raised to the dis
favor of Russian vessels then the Rus
sian tonnage tax viii be correspond
lngly increased It is said the sched-
ules are to be applicable to all cOun-
tries which do not grant to Russia the
most favored nation treatment in COM
merce and navigation.
The proposal will be submitted to a
financial commission.
The necessity for the proposed leg
lsIation is explained in an accompany
ing declaration in which it is stated
that the regular American tariff Sched-
sian goods at the expiration of the
treaty of commerce and navigation of
1882 will be so high as to have pro-
hibitive character and that thew great
~ exceed the Russian normal tariff
and navigation taxes which would be
naturally applicable to American
goods in the absence of the treaty
Treaty Abrogatfon Responsible.
The province of foreign affairs lies
outside the competency of the duma
and treaties are not subject to its ap-
provaI nor is the minister of foreign
affairs answerabIe to the duma on the
state OF foreign relations. Neverthe- |
less the duma exercises through the
budget an influence on foreign affairs |
In the long declaration accommodating |
the bill signers deal fully with the |
sso-American situation and recount |
the formal steps taken by the preSi- |
dent of the United States, as follows |
The abrogation of the treaty be- |
tween Russia and America had a di- /
rect connection with the Russian agi- |
tatiOn which has been theoretically 1
conducted in America for the read
mission of American citizens of jew
ish faith. Article / of the treaty es-
tablishes the mutual rights Of entry
but contains stipulation for the OBJ /
servance of international law Deem
ing in spite of this stipulation, that the /
enforcement of the general Russian /
laws in regard to foreigners of the
Jewish religion in the case of Ameri- |
fringen ent of the treaty, the house
of representatives voted a resolution !
for its abrogation.
There cannot be any doubt that
this view is unfounded. The Russian
government and its representatives
abroad cannot but fulfill the require
ments of the Russian law contained in
paragraphs 213 to 235 of the passport
statute and paragraph S19 and the fol-
lowing ones of the law on social rights
as long as these remain in force.
"On the other hand, the question of
the admission or nOnadmission into
Russia of foreigners belongs to the
province of internal legislation on the
general principles of international law
as we'll as on the strength Of article 1
Of the treaty of 1882.
People in Glass Houses.
Thus the United States has enacted
ing the right of entry of foreigners
and there is no doubt that the federal
government would ward off any at
tempt to dispute the legality of those
regulations from an international
point of view
The declaration then quotes textual-
ly article II of the federal immigration
law of February 20. 1907, and con-
IF we take into consideration also
that the American law imposes head
tax on the whole line of foreigners
seeking American shores, it becomes
clear how stern are the restrictions to
which Russians arriving in America
are subjected. We do not question the
right of the federal government to ap-
ply any immigration laws which are
dictated by reasons of state, but we
must note for that very reason that
the motive for the abrogation of the
treaty of 1882 adduced in the resolu-
lion of the house of representatives is
Infounded."
Ciuchkoff 8 proposal hearing 114 sig
natures was laid on the tab BILE of the
suma today. The house at once voted
10 submit tie bill to the financial COM
nittee-
May Develop III Feeling
Washington. Dec 22-Although the
Russian government has not yet taken
ormal notice of the suggestion Secre-
ary Knox made in his note abrogating
he existing trade treaty of his will
ngness to begin negotiations for d
lew treaty. the good temper shown by
he Russian foreign office in the ex- ]
changes. has conveyed to the officials
here the impression that the state de-
1artments efforts to secure a new
reaty will be successful. 1t is realized
hat some time must elapse before the
-ubject can be approached in that cool :
md judicial spirit that would promise !
success in the negotiations.
The hope of the state department is :
hat the exiting treaty can be replaced I
,ly a new convention before the lapse !
# the old one. It is frankly admitted
hat much will depend on the attitude
# congress in this country and the .
luna in Russia The initiation of re- ;
aliatory measures by Russian legisla- :
ion today was viewed with apprehen-
ion and is likely to develop i'll feeling 9
between the two countries that might Z
make impossible the conclusion of