Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11
SPAIN AND SWEDEN.



The State Department is in receipt of the
following interesting report from Mr.. Rufus
Magee, the United States consul at Stockholm,
Sweden, dated October go 1885, IA contention
has arisen between the United Royal Kingdoms
on the one hand and Spain on the other
that has some features of general importance,
as 1t involves the question of treaty rights. A
treaty of commerce was concluded between the
two countries in March, 1888, which was con-
tinued in force in January, 1887. 1t is a treaty
OF the ordinary commercial character. A cit
izen of Sweden engaged in the manufacture of
alcohols has for some years been shipping the
greater portion of his products to Spain. He
established agencies and warehouses at various
places in the latter country, and at the time
of the act complained of had very large stock
in his storehouses. A certain import tax was
collected on these high-wines at the time of
their admission into the country. Afterward,
| and before the high-wines had been sold. the
Spanish government increased, quite consider
ably, the duty on spirits of domestic as we'll as
of foreign manufacture. This law was made
retroactive. The owner of the spirits refused
to pay the additional tax, and his goods were
seized and sold by the Spanish authorities. He
appealed to his own government for redress,
and the United Kingdoms demanded of Spain
value of the seized and sold goods. Spain re-
fused to comply with this demand. The
United Kingdoms insisted that the act of Spain
was in violation of the provisions of the exist
ing treaty. Spain took the position that the
law affecting her revenue was domestic, and
as it bore upon both home and foreign traders
alike, it was not in contravention Of any clause
in the treaty. To this the United Royal King
doms dissented, and asked Spain to join in an
arbitration of the question: as provided for in
hn traa GyHoi 10 do
sURRENDERING RIGHTS.
1.-THE question has been discussed throughout
the kingdoms very freely and the State depart
ment very severely censured for its course in
the matter. 1t was charged that the rights of
Swedish citizen had been surrendered, and
that the surrender was because of incompe-
tency at the royal foreign Office. This was not
just to that department. The national vanity
was wounded; the country realized that it
could not enforce its treaty rights: that it was
power so weak that Spain had acted as she
would not have acted toward the greater pow
ers
THE EFFECT IN SWEDEN.
"For awhile it was thought the tumult raised
in the press and by the people would lead to
the resignation of the secretary Of the royal
foreign Office, and those in authority were full
of concern to the ultimate results OF the
agitation. Had general election been pend
ing there is hardly any doubt but that the con-
sentative party would have been in a minority
in the diet. This would have resulted in a new
ministry, as it is very evident the present min
istry is not in harmony with majority of the
people. The conservative party is reaction
airy, and the very thing complained of from
Spain. viz. the passage of a law retroactively
affecting imports, was proposed in the session
of the late diet.
THE United Royal Kingdoms have been COM
PEELED to submit to SPANS decisions at the
n no m Ip6n 90
1 learn to-day the establishment is to be closed
and the manufacture of spirits for expectation
to cease. The owner of the business is a very
wealthy and popular citizen, and to some ex-
tent his cause has become that of party.
'After the Spanish authorities refused to
submit the contention to arbitration. the United
Royal Kingdoms had no alternative but to
acquiesce. There could be no outside inter-
vention and there could be no war. And here
the whole subject rests