The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-31
And the Big Commerce Be-
tween that Country and
the United States Is Re-
garded in Jeopardy Now.
NO UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN NATIONS
Injustice of Russia to Jews
Provoked the Action TAX
en- by the United States
in the Spring.
(National News Association)


WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Through
the expiration of the Russian treaty
of 1892 at midnight tonight, the com
merce between that country and the
United States estimated at about fifty
million dollars annually, will be placed
in position of uncertainty amounting
to jeopardy.
No formal or informal understand
ing between the two governments
looking toward the continuance and
regulation of this international trade,
has been made since the treaty abro-
.gation by President Taft and it was
learned this afternoon that the whole
matter will be left for the action of
the incoming Wilson administration.
At the state department it was said
that undoubtedly the general arbitra-
ton laws governing trade and navi-
cation will apply, but just how far
they will tend to relieve the situation
they do not pretend to predict. 1t
was pointed out, however, that the
two nations are on the best of terms
and that the comfy between nations
would guarantee American citizens in
Russia against theft and destruction,
though it would form no insurance
against discrimination.
Retalatory Policies.
That any retaliatory policy that
might be adopted would bear more
heavily on American firms than Rus
sian business organizations was read
lily admitted in diplomatic circles.
The ratio of harm that such policy
would work upon international trad
ers would be about two to one with
United States on the heavy end. This
is made evident by the export and
import statistics between the two
countries recently made public. These
showed that the United States yearly
sells about twice as much to Russia
as she does to the United States.
The dangers to American trade and
American citizens that may follow in
the wake of the treaty abrogation
were outlined as follows:
A local license or regulation deny
ing Americans the right to do business
in any part of Russia.
Exclusion of all American citizens,
whether of the Jewish race or not,
from Russian territory.
Prohibitive tariffs in discrimination
against American goods.
The refusal of American consul
rights over the estates of American
citizens in Russia.
Against all of these dangers the
absence of a treaty between Russia
mi or
the latter country powerless to retail
ate. Even the maximum and mini
mum tariff law of the United States
would be of little avail should Russia
set out upon a policy of discrimin-
alton.
Reached a Year AGO.
The decision of this government to
terminate the agreement between
Russia and the United States was
reached a little more than year ago
by President Taft after the house of
representatives had passed a sweep
ing resolution formally terminating
the treaty and directing the pres-
dent to carry out it's mandate. While
the matter was pending in the senate,
the president, by executive action end
ed the treaty. or at least, served no.
tice on Russia, in accordance with the
terms of the treaty, that this govern
ment would cease to abide by it on
January /, 1913. The reason. as is
we'll known, was the refusal of the
Russian government to recognize Am
erican passports when held by Ameri-
can Jews.
Efforts were repeatedly made
through the state department to in
duce the Cars authorities to live up
to the terms of the treaty, and since
the action taken by congress and the
president year ago. various attempts
have been made through diplomatic
echannels to formulate a new agree
ment which, in more explicit and def
mite manner, would oblige Russia to
recognize American passports. These
efforts have been fruitless, however,
and now the Taft administration has
abandoned its diplomatic negotiations
to this end, which will leave the set
Element of the matter or the trouble
resulting from failure, to the Wilson
administration.
Z The abrogated treaty embraces Is
articles. The first relates to the mu-
tual protection of citizens of one coun-
try while sojourning in the other, "on