New-York tribune., 1911-11-21
DUTY ON RUSSIAN SUGAR
It's Annulment Proposed in Return for
Privileges to American Jews.

| To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir On November II YOU printed on the
| front page Of The Tribune an interesting
letter from your Washington correspondent
I'm regard to the treatment by Russia Of
American Jews and the possible abrogation
OF the treaty OF 1882. The point made
seemed to be that Russia did not Ike TO
extend the desired privileges to American
Jews because such action under the most
favored nation clause would compel IT to
treat the Jews OF other nations In the
same wav-something which IT did not wish
! 10 do. although II had no objection TO grant
ing the desired privileges to American
Jews. That is. if some means could be
found for the United States TO form re-
ciprocal arrangement with Russia by which
the latter would obtain some concession not
granted to other nations It would be placed
in a position where I! could grant prlvi-
leges TO American Jews not extended 10
those OF other countries.
IT so happens that Just at this time the
| material for such a concession is ready at
hand. During the last two years the sugar
crops OF Russia have been abnormally
| large. whereas this year the crops of all
the other countries OF Europe have proved
| almost a failure. and have resulted I'm the
| present high price OF sugar. Russia's posi-
tion in the worlds sugar markets IS rather
| peculiar. as when in 1902 the other coun-
tries OF Europe formed the Brussels CON
yention, agreeing among themselves TO do
away with the system OF giving bountles
| on exported sugar. previously In general
practice. Russia refused TO Join them and
continued to pay bpunties. As England
was a party to the convention, and entered
Il promising to close the United Kingdoms
markets TO bounty fed sugar II was conse-
| quently forced to exclude Russian sugars
In 1908. however when the agreement was
extended. England took a position which
| resulted I'm a bargain by which England
should admit Russian sugar and Russia
should restrict to 100000 tons its total ex-
| ports TO countries where IT would compete
with sugar from convention countries.
These countries include the United States
| but Russia is further excluded from our
markets by the action OF the general coun-
| tervalling clause contained I'm both the
| Dingley and Payne tariff laws. which clause
imposes countervaing duty against sugar
which has received a bounty equal IN
amount to the bounty paid. The annul-
| ment Of this special duty In the single case
Of Russia I'm return for the granting or
| equal privileges To Americans OF the Jewish
race offers a splendid opportunity for re-
! cprocal action such as seems desirable
The 20oOoO-ton limit will hardly prove
| hindrance TO Russia's exporting any guam
| tlty II desires 10 the United States. as the
| Brussels convention again expires IN 1915
! and England has given every indication or
Withdrawing from Il at that time. 90 that
| with the markets OF England and the
| United States both open TO It's sugars.
Russia will surely have further need OF
! abiding by the convention. At present
/ Russia has about four hundred thousand
! tons Of sugar still remaining from the
| large crop OF last year. and the crop now
making promises TO provide a further half
million tons capable Of export. Its system
! Of financial encoura cement makes the pro-
| duction OF sugar quite remunerative and
| PROMISES continuance OF abundant sup
plies. II has recently applied 10 the con-
yentIon for the privilege Of increasing its
| oxport limit to 500 0NO tons. hut as yet the
/ granting OF such an extension has been
merely promised upon condition that Rus
sla agrees to bind Itself 10 a further limi-
! ,ation from 1913 10 1915 In other words.
Russia must tie her hands for the next
seven years or continue 10 carry over
whclming stocks until the expiration Of the
convention I'm 1918.
The relief which the opening OF the mar
! kots of the United States would afford at
this iuncture would be Incalculable. and
should induce Russia 10 make equal re-
turn. as II could at once begin shipping It's
Z h. Tnit a VI
following 1918 would have the markets Of
both the United States and the United
Kingdom OMEN to it's product. The advan-
tage 20 the United States would also be
considera ble and rests in the fact that the
present supplies OF home grown sugars plus
the sugars imported from Porto Rico Ha-
wall the Philippines and Cuba, which enter
either without duty or at a lower rate than
sugar from other countries. are inadequate
to meet the entire needs OF this country.
During the nine months In which these
sugars come TO market the United states
secures its supplies at considerably lower
prices than II could II forced to import
from Europe. but as soon as these supplies
are exhausted the prices rapidly advance
10 a parity with Europe. or even higher.
This has been brought forcibly to every
ones attention during the last summer.
when the short crop in Europe forced
prices to a phenomenal point as soon as the
Cuban and other cane supplies were eX-
hausted and which has only been reduced
bv the marketing OF the domestic cane and
beet crops.
The sugar which Russia could furnish at
such time would be sufficient to prevent
a recurrence Of such conditions
MERRICK p. WlLBETT.
East Orange. n j.. Nov. 20, 1911.