The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-18
lrRANsLAfIoS. |


BERLIN, Oct 2, l643.
MONSIEUR LIZ BARON: Various circumstance have
dressed to me, under date of the 25h September
loa2, by the Royal Minister Of Foreign Affairs of
Wurtemburg, BY which was requested to commu.
nicate to the Government Of his Prussian Majesty the
propos',ons winch inc Governm int Of the United
States OF America intended to make in respect to the
advantages which the said Government might he dis
posed to extend to the Germsnic Association of Com
inerce and Customs, in return for reduction of the
duties imposed on the importation Of tobacco from
the United States Of America.
am now prepared to make to you a precise over
ure on this subject by proposing to lay down the ba
Sis OF an arrangement to be hereafter concluded be
tween the United States of America and the German
&c States belonging 10 the Association of Commerce
and Customs subject to the appreciation Of my Gov
eminent, which will furnish me with the necessary
instructions for this purpose, after having maiurey
examined the different propositions made on both
sides.
propose, then, to commence negotiation for
such an arrangement having for its principal basis
an exchange OF equivalents between the two coun-
tries by means Of mutual reductions to be made in
their respective tariffs, SO as TO give greater extern
sion to the commerce between them, without too
much disturbing the protection at present accorded
TO the national industry Of each country.
On the supposition that the duties at present i'm
posed by the Germanic Association of Commerce and
Customs upon the importation of rice not aug
mentcd &nd that the article of cotton remains free
nothing to ask on its part except reduction Of the
duties levied by the Germanic Association tobacco
imported from the United States Of America.
The American Government will then be disposed
to grant reduction Of the duties imposed in the Unit.
ed States of America upon certain articles OF the
growth, produce, and manufacture Of the German
States belonging to the Association of Commerce
and Customs, such as linens and other manufactures
of fax and hemp silks and mixed goods of which
silk the material of chief value thread and cotton
laces. of gold and silver hosiery. looking glass
plates, toys, and such other articles may be desig
mated by common consent : provided that the Ger
manic Association of Commerce and Customs shall
make such reduction, shall be acceptable to the
American Government, Of the duties imposed on to-
bacco imported from the United States of America
Please to receive, Monsieur le Baron, the assur-
ances of my most distinguished consideration.
HENRY WHEATON.
His Exceency Baron do BULow,
Minister Of Foreign affairs of
His Majesty the King Of Prussia.
TRANSLATION.
BERLIN, OCTOBER 10, I943.
Sir have seen with pleasure, by the letter you
have addressed to me under date of the 9th Of this
month, that the Government of the United States of
America desires to revive the commerce with Prussia
and the other States Of the Germanic Customs Asso.
citation
The Association has not imposed any new duties
on the productions Of America. On the cCnraiy the
duty on the importation of rice considerably d.
minshed several years since but, the other hand
all the articles which the Association has hitherto i'm
ported into the United States have been so heavily
duted in tie tariff, that their importation has
been in great degree rendered impossible for the
commerce of the States of the Association.
We believe, therefore, that we have q right to
complain that the Government Of the United States
have changed the status quo such existed before
the adoption of the latest tariff
The duty imposed here upon the importation OF
tobacco, of whi,h the United States complains, is
still heavier in other countries, such Great Bri-
tain, France, and Austria; and a comparison Of the
years 1884 and 1912 conclusively proves that the
consumption of foreign tobacco in the States of the
Germanic Association is far from being injurously
affected by 1t.
The amount imported in 1894 was las, 322 qaintals
In 1912, it was 246, 749 quintas.
Since the last year the duties of importation have
been augmented as to cigars and powdered tobacco
but this increase but affect favorably the impor-
tatiOn of leaf tobacco in which alone the North Ame-
rican States are interested.
Any reduction in the duty Of importation on 10.
bacco would be great loss for the States of the AS
sOciaton, without any certain advantage resulting
tberefrom TO thoeo of America for it Still remains
to be ascertaned whether the consumption of Anne
rlcan tobacco would be increased in proportion to
this reduction.
II does not enter, for the present. into the views of
the Germanic Association TO lay a duty upon cotton
or to augment the duty of importation rice; but il
would not De disposed 10 stlPuiate with The United
States Of America not to lay future any new duty
on these articles.
The re-olening Of the market OF the United States
by means of reduction of the import duties, would
stl however, PROFESSIONALLY be of the greatest i'm
portance for the productions of the soil and Industry
OF the Germanic Association. IL, then, the Govern.
meDt Of the United States should offer to US impor-
tant advantages for articles of expectation such
designated in your letter and upon other SINH
lar articles, Prussia, and with her all the States of
Ihn A. af1on - -
lion the measures proper to favor still than it
l. now favored the Importation OF North American
tobacco into the States Of the Association.
i pray you, sir TO receive, on this occasion, the
renewed assurances of my high consideration.
BULOW
Mr.. WHEATON, SC.
! b.
The following are comparative tables Of the do
nestle and foreign tonnage employ ed in the foreign
tfaHa fha nit toto