Taft Remains Firm On Russian Treaty.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 30, 1912:
Assures Simon Wolf That No Compromise Arrangement with the Czar Will Be Made.
WILSON TO MEET PROBLEM
Russia Not Likely to Give In Before He Takes Office — Tariff War Is Considered Probable.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.— All treaty relations between the United States and Russia will cease Jan. 1, when the existing treaty between the two countries becomes void through "denouncement" by this Government. President Taft has made this clear in a letter to Simon Wolf of Washington, who had asked as to the truth of the newspaper reports, mostly emanating from Europe, that the two Governments had concluded, or were about to conclude, a temporary arrangement that would continue the terms of the denounced treaty in force until a new convention had been arranged. The President says:

My Dear Mr. Wolf:
    I have your letter of Nov. 22 in which you refer to the reports that we are engaged in making a temporary agreement with Russia to take the place of the agreement which we have abrogated. I beg to assure you that we expect to make no agreement of this kind or of any kind. What we have been doing is examining the existing treaties and statutes and international law applicable to a situation like that which will occur after our treaty with Russia of 1832 shall cease to be. We do not expect to change by any agreement or so-called modus vivendi the status quo which the abrogation of the treaty will leave on the first of January next by ceasing to have effect.
            Yours very truly.
            WILLIAM H. TAFT.

    While he does not say so in his letter, President Taft has taken the ground that, as the existing treaty has been abrogated by action of Congress because it enables Russia to refuse admission into the Czar's dominions of Jewish citizens of the United States, there is no other course open to the Administration than to insist that any new agreement must provide for the recognition by Russia of passports issued to all American citizens. The refusal of Russia to concede these principles makes a continuance of relations impossible without direct violation of American statutory law.
    While officials of the Administration do not overlook the fact that the absence of treaty arrangements between Russia and the United States may be embarrassing to both nations, they feel that Congress "built a high wall" that can be razed only by Russia's recognition of a cardinal American tenet, now specifically affirmed by the people's representatives, that ail American citizens shall be equally protected in their rights by the Federal Government.
    Although the President's letter may give the impression that there have been no efforts by the two Governments to overcome the salient point at issue, the fact is that there have been exchanges on the subject both in Washington and St. Petersburg. It is said that Russia made two proposals for an adjustment of differences, but as neither recognized the principle for which this Government contended a deadlock was produced. The exchanges are understood not to have progressed beyond the conversational stage.
    The material effect of a severance of treaty relations on the affairs of the two countries cannot be determined at this time. It is probable, however, that a tariff war will be brought about through the fact that Russian law provides that the high rates of the Russian maximum or discriminatory tariff must be applied to importations from countries whose Governments do not have treaty understandings concerning commerce and navigation with Russia.
    Should some means be found by which this Russian law would not be invoked, the Government of the United States would be able to continue most-favored nation treatment to Russian goods. But should the tariff on American goods be increased it would be necessary for this Government to apply at once the maximum rates provided in the Payne-Aldrich tariff law, which directs that there shall be a horizontal increase of 25 per cent, in the duties on all articles imported into this country from any country that does not accord most-favored nation treatment in tariff matters to the United States.
    From present indications nothing whatever toward a resumption of treaty relations is likely to be done during the brief period that the Taft Administration will remain in power. This will mean that President Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State will be confronted with this serious problem at the very beginning of the Administration. No doubt is felt here that President Wilson and his Secretary of State will be in thorough accord with the policy announced by President Taft in his letter to Mr. Wolf. A Democratic House of Representatives adopted the original resolution for the abrogation of the Russian treaty, but beyond that the Congressional ratification of President Taft's denouncement of the treaty will be as binding on Mr. Wilson as on Mr. Taft.