The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-01-02
FIFTY MILLIONS
COMMERCE WITH !
RUSSIA IN PERIL.
Treaty of 1882, Regulating Trade
Relations Expired Tuesday
at Midnight.
AMERICA SUFFERS THE MOST.
Refusal to Recognize Passports Of
Jewish Citizens Led to
Abrogation.
AMERICA SUFFERS THE MOST

Washington, Jan. Through the
expiration of the Russian treaty of
1882 at midnight Tuesday the COM
,merce between that county and the
United States, estimated at about
s50,000,0O0 annually, will be placed
in position OF uncertainey amount
ing to jeopardy.
No formal or Informal understand
ing between the two governments
ooking toward the continuance and
regulation of this international trade
has been made since the treaty alb
roSation by President Taft and il
WAS learned this afternoon that the
Vi helo matter win be left for the ae
tion of the incoming Wilson admin
istratlon
An the State Depaument it was
said that undoubtedly the general ar
bhation laws governing trade and
aaNigaton will apply, but just how
fa- they will tend to relieve the sit
uation they do not pretend to pre-
dict 1t was pointed out, however
that the two nations are on the best
of terms and that he comfy between
motions would guarantee American
cIizens IN Russia againa theif ard
destruction, though Il would form
no insurance against Discrimination
America to Suffer Most.
That any retaliatoey policy that
might be adopted would bear more
heavily on American firms than Rus
tan bueiness organizations was
readily admitted in diplomatic cir
cles. The ratio of harm that such
policy would work upon interna-
tional traders would be about two to
one. with the United States on the
heavy end. This Is made evident by
the export and import statistics be-
tween the two countries recently
made public. These showed that
the United States yearly sells about
twice as much to Russia as Russia
does to the United States.
The dangers to American trade
and American citizens that may fol-
ow in the wake Of the treaty abro-
cation were outlined as follows:
A local license or regulation
denying Americans the right to
do business in any part of Rus
!, sia.
Exclusion of all American
citizens, whether of the Jewish
race or not, from Russian ter
ritory.
Prohibltive tariffs in dis
elimination against American
goods
The refusal of American con-
sui rights over estates Of
American citizens in Russia.
Again all OF these dangers the abb
sence of a treaty between Russia
and the United States. would render
the latter country powerless to re-
taliate Even the maximum tariff
: law of the United States wou be
of little avail should Russia set ont
upon a poicy of discrimination
Taft Served Notice.
The decision of this government
70 terminate the agreement between
russia sad the United States was
reached little more than year
ago by President Taft after the
House of Representatives had passed
sweeping resolution formally ter
minating the treaty and directing
the President to carry out its man
date. While the matter was pending
in the Senate the President, by ex.
ecutiye action, ended the treaty, OF
at least served notice on Russia, In
accordauce with the terms of the
treaty, that this government would
cease to, abide by it on January /
1913 The reason, as is well known
was the refusal of the Russian gov
eminent to recognize American pass
ports when held by American Jews
Efforts We're repeatedly mad,
through the State Department to In
duce the Cars authorities to i've III
to the terms of the treaty. and sine
the action taken by Congress an,
the President year ago various at