The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-01
GREAT OPPORTUNITY IS
PRESENTED BY RUSSIA
Abolition OF Tariff Tgleemcnts With
Enemy Nations May Mean Open
Door for American Trade.
PASSPORT QUESTION INVOLVED
Since Abrogation OF Treaty of iSi2
Owing to Ire tment of American
Jews, Russian rear and American
Eagle Have Had No Compact.

Washington. March Sf--Of-
flctaIs here sec In the abolition
Try Russia of the conventional
tariff agreements between herself
and Germany and Austria Ham
sary tho possibility of either the
greatest blow or the greatest
boom to american trade with
Russia.
Russ,a's action presents ~ the
United Gates Government one of
the greatest single trade oppor-
tunitics IL has over had. II
realized upon properly American
trade with Russia can be doubled.
IL Is said, while II ADVANTAGE ia
not 'aken or TINS opportunity. IL
is pretlit~ed frat thu yrp,tns,
states win he left at a greater
d'Sah"antarc than eve- t,cfcrs, In
rcrnrd TO the territory OF the
car
The abolition OF the conventions,
tariN with Germany and her ally IA
regarded here as but the precursor TO
fhe making of new tariff treaties
between Russia and other trading
nations. Whether the United States
trade between Russia is 10 be greatly
EXPANDED. or whether II is to sink
into insignifcarce. depends. II is as
serted on whether this Government
takes advantage Of the opportunity
and makes a favorable treaty with
Ru-sia. There is a growing senti-
ment in the administration for the
making OF a commercial treaty with
Russia irrespective OF the passport
question.
Acts Immediate Erect.
The immediate effects OF the aboii-
ton OF the Russia tariry conventions
with Germany and Austria Is nomi-
na,ly to place all countries on an
equal basis with regard to the Russia
tariffs. 1nasmuch however as Russia
Is now importing practically nothiug
except war materials II Is not anti
t'reab1e results Immediately from
the new taria The United States
enjoyed despite the abrogation of the
treaty OF 1892 most favored nation
treatment in regard to the Russian
tariff and pending the making OF
new tariff treaties will not be any
worse Oft than any other country ex-
porting to Russia.
IT Is regarded as certain however.
that Russia will at once begin neeo-
tiations OF new tariff treaties. Eng
land and France, II Is predicted here.
will certainly be granted most favor
able terms perhaps even more adj
vantageous to their trade than were
the conventions just abolished of
great value to Germany and Austria.
The State Department IN satisfied
that not for generations II ever. will
GERMANY and Austria again enjoy the
particularly favored tar'fY treatment
accorded them by Russia, and that
the ADVANTAGE taken awav from those
two countries must necessarily pass
to others. While II In conceded that
ENGLAND and France are certain 10
get a large share of this trade ad-
vantage officials f>-e believe that
a very great extent II II will only take
of the opportunities now
presented by stepping in and nego-
tiatiinr a trade treaty with Russia.
Promises Great Benefits.
Since the first announcement OF
the possibility that commercial
treaty might be negotiated with Rus
sia without an attempt to dispose OF
the vexatious Jewish passport issue.
officials OF the State Department have
been gratified at the many express
ElonH OF apptO7 al OF INC sukEVStipuS
which has reached Washington
Many of them are satisfied that the
country' Ia pre- AIRED TO support poll
icy promising such vast benefits to
Amerit an trade.
The attitude of Russia Ia favorable
to the proposed course. Russia has
never changed as matter or fact.
having indicated her willingness to
resume commercial treaty relations
ever since the treaty OF 1892 was
abrogated. She has been inflexfble.
however in regard to the passport
issue, Since the war began Russian
statesmen have issued remarkable in
vitations to the United States To come
and take the trade that Germany
and Austria formerly monopolized.
yet because Of the political aspects
Of the passport question II has been
Impossible up to the present to take
advantage Of Russia's readiness TO
resume good business relation.
Many official believe. however thar
the time has come to deal with the
commercial treaty and the PASSPORT
question az separate and distinct
issues.