The sun., 1893-08-14
THE RUSS0-GERMAN FIGHT.
AT PRESENT 1T rs CONDUCTED STRICT
LY WITH Tariff SCHEDULES.

| BERLIN, Aug. 3.-Notwith standing that the
! customs war between Germany and Russia Is
| being fought with much vigor on both sdes.
| tho Official newspapers OF Germany arc taking
particular pains to intimate that most friendly
| relations continue to exist between Emperor
| William and the Car. and that even the Ber-
! lin and ST. Petersburg Governments are on
| good terms The latest developments in the
| tariff fight however point to the contrary. and
| IL Ia more than likely that IL some agreement
| is not speedily arrived at, the customs war
will have effects that were not thought OF whe n
| IL was begun. The question OF ownership OF
| land in Russia by Germans has been reopened.
and on Thursday last the Car authorized the
APPOINT tment of a Commission to inquire into
the validity OF the deeds held by persons OF
German descent. showing their titles to estates
in the provinces OF Livonia. Esthonia, and
Courland.
The aim Of the inquiry Is without doubt to
root out tho German element in the Russian
Baltic provinces. The property in the prov
inces referred to Is owned by host of persons.
Including many who belong to the minor
| nobility The Commission will undoubtedly
work hardship to many property owners Of
German descent whose estates have been
handed down from father to son for genera
ton after generation. and who have never
oubled themselves about title deeds. Called
upon to prove their ownership by document
ary evidence-and it is said none other will be
accepted they will find themselves unable to
do so. and the result will be that the property
will revert to the Crown.
Another instance OF the "Germanophobia" I"
which is prevalent in the lussian official
world ia an order prohibiting Germans from
sojourning within seven leagues OF any for
! tress in the provinces OF kovno. Grodno. and
Wilma, in Poland. Numerous expulsions have
occurred OF Germans who had lived their whole
lifetime within the districts that are now pro-
scrbed. They have only a brief time in which
to leave the districts included in the order and
their property is conllscated ollhand.
Every day tho tariff war gains in intensity.
Dr. Witte, the Russian Finance Minister. so
far as tho country's commercial relations are
concerned. is omnipotent. 1t was only few
days ago that he refused to see a deputation
of Russion landowners, including several
mem bers OF the high nobility who have free
access to tho Gar The object OF the deputa-
ton was to protest against the continuance OF
the tariff war which was adversely affecting
their interests.
Dr. Witte undoubtedly made n smart stroke
when he blocked the German trade in Finland.
The value Of this trade last year amounted to
about 5O,OOO,OOO marks. During tho week
Emperor vii lam made a counter stroke hy
u
usual duties collected on Finnish products
brought to Germany. but 1t must be said that
the Russians have the better OF this skirmish.
as the German decree affects n trade that
amounts to only 100000 marks anpua.iy.
But the events OF every week prove that Russia
will be beaten on the large field on which the
contest is ultimately to be decided.
Though the German transit traffic and ship
ping trade are suffering through the cessation
of grain shipments and from other causes
arising from the commercial war. the Russian
calculation that the prices Of cereals in Ger
many would rise owing to the scarcity of Rus
sian grain In the market has proved entirely
erroneous. Among the chief Russian exports
y was sbow rye oM nnI a Ia may 6s
were astray In their conIeGtarGs regarding @ .t;l:
customs war began a short time ago the price
went up to l4b marks but it has since been
tion had got back to the July price l43 marks.
Snpplies OF rye fISm Ameriga are pantnG into
ABOUT sWcnt1- Ave per S cent Of the rye % impored
into Germany. This year the quantity i'm
ported ports, from fro America will he doubled T. 49,
IN Italy. and the impending increase OF taxa
lures that are necessitated hv the Army ill.,
financial and commercial affairs in Germany
ns na SepW n% that OF prava
almost everywhere in Germany adds to the
embarrassment and has com! ellei and will
immense quantities Of hieadstuiis AMI fodder
This will result in the, depletion of tn" stock OF
As tho gold held by the Eeichs'ank amounts
to only dO0Uunon0 marks, including rart OF
me var chest ,he ssr are
prevent wi ihdrawaIs. The discount rate Is al
ready Ave per cent: and tn seinterested wonld
other a vance had reen made |; is genera !ly
believed that il any marked increase in tn. de-
mand Tor gold occurs tho rate VIII DO immedi-
Throughout the week Boerse operators we're
bonds oerinr SaS them n" With ut " in ns
and Lond"n. German investors in ltal ian
Government securities have awak kencd too late
The situation causes attention here to be
gresI as the pivot upon which everything III
the financial world will swing. In Austrian
aey n, thsr nSw
prevails lest the abolition Of the sherman law
will SO increase the demand for gold as TO
The f"stI iaSet'an publishes, the results of
experts. and mcmUers Of the Bourse. who all
concur In urging upon the GoLernmcnt the
rensy reforms with a view to the imminenc
g the appreciation of gold under international
Tie mints continue to coin silver in large
quantities. while tho Austrian and Hungarian
S ssS aFd b to s want sSFn ,bs s nt of
ment to stop the coinage OF silver and to nc-
ceiera'e tho issue OF gold coins. The Govern
ment seems inclined to await foreign develop
ments.
The agrnran unions throughout Germany
are pressing Chancellor Won taprivi to rniso
the tnriT on Austrian cerens in the event 6f a
commercial treaty being concluded between
Austria and liussa. The Chancellor has pri-
vately assured tho agrarian len lers that Ger
many has an understanding with Austria that
no liusslnn cereals will he permitted to pass
through Austria in trnst 10 Germany. I he
agrarians fear that Russia VIII make attempts
to ship Gra to Austria and Hungary and have
It transshipred to Germany. where it viii be
entered AS the Austrian or Hungarian product.
and thus cscnbe the prohibition duty lowed on
Rnssian grain.
Plans have been completed for forming
free hnrhor at Dantzic. The, plans pro-
large expenditure of money The aim OF the
Government Is to mako pnntziG, tho largest
storehouse Of grain in northern Europe.
, The shell that recently OK ploded in a gun on |
board tho war ship Baden. at kiel. kill ling two !
Lieut"nants and several seamen. has been eX- !
tractrd from tho gun only with tho utmost diff |