New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-03
EUROPEAN COMMERCE.
TIE NEW COMMERCIAL TREATIES AND
WHAT Is EXPECTED OF THEM

The League Of Peace il now 10 he also league OF
trade. The new commercial treaties erect MS
They form the most important customs league In
modern history They cover a territory extending
from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, with more
than l4O,0OG,OO0 Inhabitants These coun.
tries comprise much of the most pro-
ductive territory OF Europe. both agricultural and
manufacturing. Indeed, they dominate industrial
Europe The treaties are to 20 into force on Feb
ruary l. 1892, and to continue positively untfi
December 81. 1903 and indefinitely thereafter.
unless one years notice OF their termination ne
given. Their ultimate effect will assuredly he To
divide the continent into two countries. IL is evil
dent therefore that the political significance OF the
treaties is scarcely less than their commercial.
4 memorandum accompanied the bills relating
to these treaties when presented in the Rcichstag.
and Germany is the chief factor in the COM
bination, this paper is Of much interest, since
reveals the motives and hopes Of the German
Government in concluding the treaties. Tho
policy of Europe in commercial matters for the
past ten years, it SAYS has been largely founded
on a system of comprehensive conventional tariffs
on rhc basis Of the commercial and customs
treaties OF France with Belgium. Portugal, Scan-
dinava Spain, Switzerland and Holland in the
first half of the last decade 10 which other treaties
with italy, Aus'ra-Iiungary, etc. were added.
/
duties of most OF the European States for
many years in n matter which conferred con-
| siderable advantages compared with the
| autonomous general customs tariffs Of those
countries. Germany had adopted this system only
to comparatively small extent, and concluded
commercial treaties. liking or reducing certain
duties in return for corresponding concessions only
! with Italy, Spain. Greece and Switzerland. Ger
many merely reciprocated the most favored
nation" treatment with most European and
several non-Europcan States. The treaty OF
| Frankfort determined the commercial relations
! between Germany and France. Germany, there
fore had kept her hands essentially free but fnily
participated in the advantages of the European
! conventional tariffs; as OF the most favored
nations.
This state Of things, which secd,ed to Germany
important benefits will cease on February |. 1892,
when complete revolution of European CONNER
cial policy threatens 10 take place, owing to thu
marked growth of PrOtectionisi tendencies IN
! Frame Russia and the United Stacs Germanys
exports 10 Russia fell from 22s.0o0.o0o marks IN
| 1850 10 l3l 10000 in 1851. aud have increased
very slightly since then. owing TO the rise In rune
notes which, however. Was instantly counter
balanced by tine raising of the Russian duties 40
regards the l'nted states the Mckinley act greatly
| injured the trade from Europr in which Germany
| il largely Interested. The nearer the expiration OF
the European commercial treaties. which afforded
| Germany num,rous advantages, approached, the
| more urgent was il for her Ia decide whether she
would adopt the Protection policy oi the aoo'o
STATES which considerably favors mutual isolation,
or secure for herself decisive influence over the
approaching changes Of the European customs
| tariffs by intcrna iOnal agreement She coud nos
| but choose the latter alternative.
| ,i,-in COM
| mercial policy since 40, the memorandum goes
on TO declare that Germany's development into an
industrial State OF the first rank, tie increase OF
| her population and the fact that the producus OIL
her soil do not quite meet the demands OF nome con-
sumption compel her TO import large QUANTITIES VI
foreign raw materials and food, for when shs
must export, first and foremost manufacture"
| goods The average import Of raw materials from
1850 10 | 500 was ?206, 100000 marks or ,5o''-
600 600 after dcdtctng the export 81 raw ma
| ,erials In 1869, the other hand, the corres-
| bonding figures were 2.sls,OOO."oo and @'o"o'-
| 600 600 and in 1890 even o,966. 100000 ana -
| 100 OO0. 900 The export Of manufactured goods
did not keep step with this large increase Of the
! import of raw materials. The AVERAGE from lsso
| 70 1890 was ??6O. OOO. 900 marks and i.2l OoO.-
coo after deducting the imported manufactured
goods. but the corresponding figures in 1889 wers
o3so. 0s0. 900 and LIS. 100000. ard in 1890
| aso 900 900 and Less 100000. Ncverihe-
| lex, these figures sufficiently show what
large interests are bound mp within The German
export trade. how deeply the working classes are
concerned in IT, and what IN important factor
il is in the prosperity of German industry ana of
German national economy at large. The total
of the German exports in 1885, was ) '"0,0 oo,ooO
marks: in 1888. 1852 900 600: IN 1889. 3,2jo,-
O0O. 600 and in 1870. 3,4090o0.0 600. This shows
convincingly that the Germans are not al-Suhcient
for Themselves despite the increasing capacity OF
consumption.
The conclusion Of new international treaties
on the most favored nation basis only,
without fixed duties. would make it possible for
Germany To secure the hOm" market for home
products. by protective duties NJ discretion. but
| would not afford the slightest guarantee that
| foreign markets. which are Indispensable 10 the
| German export trade, woui remain accessible.
| Considering the competition among all progressive
| States. which il becoming more and more keen
with the increase Of production and Tie means OF
nriluction lasting commercial intercourse DO
| tween them il conceivable only the basis Of
| the rational exchange of goods which, again,
| pre>upposes n ccrfain mutual limitation ~ FREE
| control of customs I'm view Of the prevailing
| poliiicO-commercial tendencies Germany could not
he cure of maintaining Lcr export trade
! if she did not by such limitations. AFFORD
| other countries an opportunity of pay.
ing for the goods received. wholly or partially, in
products of their own. The assurance of greater
stability in customs is as important as the estab-
! lshnen, of more favorable relations between tho
markets, and is regarded by men Of business as
essential to the prosperous development Of the
! international exchange OF goods. The stability Of
customs. which has been urgently demanded for
| wears past. can. moreover. he attained only w
| fixing duties for long term by treaty.
The benefits of the new system will. II d be'
leved, be- pretty equally bestowed upon tho
! various sgnatory Powers There are those who
urge that Italy will profit mcst which would not
be altogether unjust. seeing how much she has
| suffered from her desperate efforts TO keep up