Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-24
Attention Absorbed in Com
mercial Treaties.
A Powerful Customs Bund In
Formation.
1t May Seriously Affect the Trade of
the United States.
with the French Art, Exhibit
in Moscow.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
BERLIN, Nay 23.-[Copyrighted, 1891,
by the New York Associated Press. =
The attention of the foreign Office is alb
sorbed in the commercial treaty nego-
tiations, some of the results of which
will have great effect on the trade rela-
tions between Germany and the United
States. Arrangements with Italy, Swift
zerland and Roumania are progressing
towards an entente. Belgium is also
negotiating with Germany, but that
country is less likely than others to be
drawn within the customs bund. Rus
sia's overtures for the reduction of the
German corn tariff, in exchange for a
lessened tariff on German manufactures,
has been received in friendly spirit here,
but the opposition of Austria is expected
to be bar to any definite arrangement.
Austria tried to secure reduction of
the German grain tariff in favor of her
self exclusively. She failed in this,
however, and now raises the point OF
the German Austrian treaty assuming
differential treatment for Russian i'm
ports into Germany. Servia has offered
to Join the commercial alliance
on the basis of the free en-
try OF swine and cattle into
Germany, Austria and Hungary. AS
Servian exports cross Austrian territory,
in order to reach. Germany, the Berlin
government wants the Austrian author
tiles to guarantee against dangers of in
fection from Servian swine. The ad-
mission OF Servian pork into Germany
would be inconsistent with the prohibi-
tion against American pork, which is
acknowledged to be safer and of purer
quality.
:, The general position of the negotia-
tions now really gives reason to ex-
pect formidable central customs coali-
tion, including Germany, Austro- Hun
gary, Italy, Switzerland, Roumania and
Seryia, while Belgium, Russia and Spain
have partial reciprocity with the general
European bund.
The effect of the American convention
with Spain has begun to excite press
comment. AS soon as the pending
European treaties are arranged, the
special privileges which the convention
accords America will be contested by the
combined powers.
The situation of France, which coun-
try is menaced with commercial isola
ton, dictates the governments policy
of adhesion to a moderate tariff admit
ting of reciprocity treaties. So far as
Germany is concerned, the French gov
ernment seems to rely upon the main
tenance of the Frankfort treaty, as in
suring France the "most favored nation"
treatment, but among the critical politi-
cal consequences arising from Germany's
commercial alliances, the renunciation
of the Frankfort treaty is now freely
discussed in official circles.
A RUSSIAN SENSATION.
A sensation has been caused by dis
covery relating to the French exhibit
tion at Moscow, which gave the czar
occasion to show his solicitude for the
French. To avoid wounding the feel
ings of the French committee, the exhi-
bition which was in need OF funds,
secretly applied to the Jewish and Rus
sian capitalists, Grunkwolf & Polliakoff,
and got loan on depositing 200, 900
tickets as security. The firm became
involved in quarrel with the commit
tee, and claimed control of the en-
trance money of the exhibition.
The rupture led to a scandal.
The czar was incensed that 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 Of
Tense to France by going to Moscow
without patronizing the exhibition, he
has sent the promoters OF the fair an
angry intimation that the province of
the imperial family as an assistant of
Jewish speculation, is impossible. His
ire has also been increased by the fact
that during his stay in Moscow he de-
sired to lay the foundation stone OF
monument to be erected in memory of
his father, and also to, open the first
exhibition of Central Asian prod
ucts held in Russia. The whole
programme has been dropped.
A PECULIAR PERSECUTION.
Rev. Mr., Ayers, young American
clergyman, who has been preaching in
an English chapel here, has been the
victim of a peculiar persecution. A
young German woman took strong
fancy to him, and made it her habit to
attend church and gaze in rapt contem-
plation at the preacher. She followed
him until he was compelled to move from
one boarding house to another to elude
her. She threatened to commit suicide
before his eyes unless he listened to her
suit. The American minister, Mr..
Phelps was finally appealed to by
Ayers. Phelps communicated with the
lady's family, and it being evident that
her mind was unbalanced, she was sent
to an asylum.
PACIFIC COAST TOURIST.
Bagley Gatzert, ex-mayor of Seattle,
Wash, has arrived in the city after
making tour of the east.