The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-23

i year ago in notifying Germany that Her commercial treaty which embodied preferential tariffs in favor of Ger many, would not be renewed at ies termination in 1916. Russia, whether justly or not, has long been ersuadea that Germany has really enforced the ratification of these treaties because the latter realized that Russia was con slderably demoralized on account of the War with Japan The magnitude of the commercial advantages to Germany Consequent upon these preferential tariffs is set forth by the statistics which show that Germany has been selling to Russia since the treaties were ratified commodities of the yearly value of between four hundred and five hundred millions.
 Since the war began last summer, the leaders In our own industries and IF the financial activities of tho nation have received over and over again evidences of strong disposition on the part of Russia to cultivate com II ercial relations with the United States and also to transfer to this country, as well as to Great Britain and France. much of the trade -vhish Germany has carried on with Russia
 This has been substantially one sided trade, since Russia's exports to Germany have been, comparatively speaking, small.
 It is not possible to report in detail what the financial facilities offered by the United States, directly and indi- iectly, to Russia have been since the var began. Part of these are reflected in the financial assistance which Eng land has given to Russia one of the reasons why it is impossible b make any active report of these transac- tions lies in the fact that as whole they have been somewhat widely dis tributed and there are no means here for gathering data respecting them. There seems to be no doubt that since about the first of October Russia's purchases in the United States are In money value somewhat in excess of $l00. 0.O00,000. Practically all these are for material needed for carrying on the war. Great as have been Russias purchases here, they are likely 60 be dwarfed in money value in comparison with those for which negotiations are now in progress or later ones which are now in contemplation.
 A Commerce of Peace
 This, however, is not the kin6 of com merce which modern Russia hopes to de- velop with the United States. It is war commerce. It reflects a desperate emer- gency, and to consdera ble extent it will end when peace comes. What Russia is seeking Is the creation and great devel- orment of a peaceful commerce with the United States, which must be for some years largely in favor of this country since our imports from Russia are not likely to be heavy. Several reasons are given for this disposition in Russia One is sentimental. Russia in times of emer- gency in the United States, even in colo Lial days, has been friendly to the United States. Russia as recently as 1898 refused to join continental nations of Europe in intervening or in offering mediation at the time of our war with Spain. Another reason is based upon the fact that Rus sia has always found her business dealings with the United States satisfactory, and such American manufactured commodi- ties, particularly farm implements and electrical apparatus, as have been im-