Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-17
In THE FATHERLAND.
Overtures to Spain for a
Commercial Treaty.
The Convention With America
Stands in the Way.
Pending Changes in the Prussian
Ministry.
Caustic Criticisms of the Kaiser's Auto
cratic Tendencies-Great Suffer-
ing in Westphalia.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
BERLIN, Nay 16.-[Copyrighted, 1891,
by the New York Associated Press. L
The negotiations for German-Austrian
commercial treaty with Spain have be-
come curiously involved with the reci-
procity convention proposed by the
United States. The German embassy at
Madrid sent dispatch to the effect that
the Spanish minister of foreign affairs
received the overtures for treaty with
Germany favorably, and told the German
ambassador that the cabinet meant to
renew its treaties generally ON the prin-
clple OF reciprocity as far as was compat-
ible with its protection policy. Since
this, however, the concession to the
United States has become known.
This renders it difficult for
any treaty with European powers.
Spain has agreed to give American inn
ports into Cuba and Porto Rico differ
ential rate of rs per cent. against
similar imports from all other countries.
whether or not they conclude treaties
with Spain. Such privilege, consti-
tuting a practical customs union be-
tween the United States and the Spanish
Antilles, blocks the negotiations which
the German ambassador had undertaken
simultaneously with the Austrian.
Italian and Belgium ministers. Spain
has been invited to send a delegate to
the customs conference at Vienna, where
the difficulty might be discussed. Ger
man traffic with the Antilles is of no
great importance, but the formation of a
treaty recognizing exclusive American
privileges is hardly possible. The
Madrid government finds that every
country of Europe has similar view OF
the matter. ,-
GERMAN CABINET CHANGES.
The resignation of Herr Maybach,
Prussian minister Of public works, re-
moves from the public stage the last
minister of the old emperor, except
Boetticher. The latter is now on the
eve OF departing. 1t is reported that he
will become president of the province of
Schlesswig- Holstein. Herr Won Ben
ningsen has succeeded to the home o.,
flee, and Herr Miguel, imperial minister
OF finance, becoming vice-president of
the Prussian council. The impending
changes add power to the National Lib
erals in the ministry.
THE KAISER HIS OWN MINISTER.
The press is discussing pamphlet,
supposed to have been inspired by Bis
marck, assailing the emperor's tenden-
cies toward absolutism. The paper
argues that minister alone ought to be
responsible, and that the sovereign
ought specially to avoid rhetorical de-
clarations. as in proportion that his
fallibility becomes obvious, will respect
for him suffer. A chapter on The
Kaiser, His Own Minister, blames
Chancellor Won Caprivi for not using
his influence to prevent the emperor's
injudicious public utterances, compares
Germany to a rudderless ship, and ac-
cuses the emperor of consulting private
advisers behind the backs of his minis
ters.
MISERY OF DEFEATED STRIKERS.
The misery of the defeated strikers at
Westphalia is extreme. Over 10000
who have applied for work in the Bo-
chum district have been refused en-
ployment and threatened with expulsion
from their homes.