The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-24
EUROPEAN CUSTOMS BUND
The German Foreign Office Deeply
Absorbed in Commercial
Treaty Negotiations.
Very Considerable Progress Has
Already Been Made in
That Direction.

The Cznr's Ire Raised by tho Moscow Ex-
hibition-Smitten With AN Ameri-
can Preacher.
lCopyright, 1891. New York Associated Press
BERLIN. May 23.--The attention of the
foreign Office 10 absorbed in commercial
treaty negotiations, some of the results of
which will have direct bearing on Ger
many's relations with the United States.
Arrangements with Italy, Switzerland and
Roumanin are progressing towards entente.
Belgium is also negotiating with Germany,
but that country is less likely than others
to be drawn within a customs bund. Rus
sia's overtures for reduction of the Ger
man corn tariff, in exchange for lessened
tariff on German manufactures, has been
received in friendly spirit here, but the
opposition of Austria is expected to be a
bar to any definite arrangement. Austria
tried to secure reduction Of German grain
tariff in favor of herself exclusively. She
failed in this, however, and now raises the
point of the German-Austrian treaty as
precluding differential treatment for Rus
sia. Servia has offered to join CONNER
cial alliance on the basis of free entry of
swine and cattle into Germany, Austria and
Hungary. As Servian exports cross Austrian
territory in order to reach Germany, the
Berlin government wants Austrian authori-
ties to guarantee against dangers of infec-
tion from Servian swine. The admission
of Servian pork into Germany would be in
consistent with her prohibition against
American pork, which is acknowledged to
be safer and of superior quality. The gen.
eral positions of the negotiations now give
reason to expect a formidable central Eu-
ropean customs coalition, includ-
ing Germany, Austria, Hungary
Italy. Switzerland, Roumania and Servia,
while Belgium, Russia and Spain may have
partial reciprocity with the central Eu-
ropean bund. The effects of the American
convention with Spain have begun to ex-
cite press comments. AS soon as pending
European treaties are arranged the special
privileges which the convention acoords
America will be contested by the combined
powers. The situation of France, which
country is menaced with commercial isola-
icy of adhesion to moderate
tariff admitting of reciprocity treat
les AS far as Germany is concerned
the French government seems to rely npon
the maintenance of the Frankfort treaty
as assuring France the most favored ma
tion'' treatment, but among the critical
political consequences arising from Ger
many's commtrcial alliances, the renuncia-
tion of the Frankfort treaty is now freely
discussed in official circles.
sensation has been caused by discov-
cry relating to the French exhibition at
Moscow, which gave the czar occasion to
show his solicitude fo~ the FIench. 10
avoid wounding the feelings of the French
committee the exhibition, which was In
reed of funds, secretly applied to the jew
ish and Russian capitalists. Grunewald and
Pi!likof, and got loan on depositing
l,2ooOoO tickets as security. Grunewald
and Pollikotf became involved in
IL quarrel with the committee and claimed
control of the entrance money of the
exhibition. The rupture led to
scandal The czac was incensed chat the
fair should have fallen into the hands of
the detested Jews. If the matter is not
speedily settled he will abandon his visit to
Moscow, in order to avoid giving otfense to
France by going to Moscow without patron
izing the exhibition. He has sent the pro-
moters of the fair an angry intimation that
the presence of the imperial family as an
assistance to Jewish speculation is i'm
possible. His ire has also been in
creased by the fact that during his stay in
Moscow he desired to lay the foundation
stone of monument to be erected in mem
DRY of his father and also to open the first
exhibition of Central Asia products ht Id in
Russia. The whole programme has been
dropped.
Rev. Mr.. Ayers. a young American cler-
gyman, who has been preaching in the
English chapel here, has been the victim of
n peculiar persecution. A young German
woman took IL strong fancy to him and
made it n habit to attend church and
gaze in rapt attention at the preacher. She
followed him when he moved from one
boarding house to another to elude her.
She threatened to commit suicide before
his eyes unless he listened 10 her suit. The
American minister, Mr.. Phelps, was finally
appealed to by Ayers. Phelps communi-
Gated with the lady's family. and it being
evident her mind was unbalanced, she was
sent to an asylum.
English VS.. Portuguese.
LONDON, May ga dispatch received
here from Lorenzo Marquee, Portuguese
town of Africa, on the north side of the
Delagoa bay, says the British cruiser Brick
arrived and reports serious conflict be-
rit