ABSTRACT
The history of commercial diplomacy in Europe during the last thirty years is very different from the triumphant progress between 1860 and 1870. In the ten years which preceded the Franco-Prussian War most of the important nations of Europe made Treaties with one another, embodying considerable reductions of customs duties. The Tariff system, which was adopted in 1892, is interesting as being the logical outcome of Protection – the most perfect machinery for effecting the ends of Protection which has yet been devised. The Russian Tariff of 1902 contains, strictly speaking, no 'minimum' rates, but the duties levied on many commodities when imported by the Western land frontier are in excess of the duties in the same commodities when imported by sea. This excess is plainly meant to leave a margin for reductions to Germany and Austria.
