New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
RUSSO-GERMAN RECIPROCITY
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPOH.
TANCE OF THE PENDING TREATY.

TANCE OF THE PENDlNt ThEATIs
WHAT DOES PRINCE BISMARCK THINK or Ht
FRANCE GREATLY DISTURBED AT THE PROS
PEcr-THE CAUCUS AGAINST THE PEERS
MR. GLADsToNE's RETURN-LAwMAK-
ING IN THE UPPER HOUSE-AN AN.
ARcHIsTIc EPIsoDE-MR. BUcHAN-
ANS LATEST PLAY.
pr cADx TO rHE TRIBUNE,
toprfqhn 1894: Bp the 7ritun. -.soea,ton.)
London. Feb 10-Nearly all the kilograms
from Berlin indicate that the commercial treaty
between Germany and Russia has good cnanos
of being accepted by Parliament The two Gov
ernments came TO an agreement some time sinoe
The substance oft isl known and the full text Will
soon be published 1t may best be defined as an
instrument, not Of free trade, nor OF anythms
approa ching to it. but of reciprocity. The neso-
tiators on both sides have acted on Prince Bis
marck's motto DO ut des" Roughly speaking
German industry and Russian agriculture are
the two chief benefcaries under the new treaty
The manufacturers Of Germany are not' per-
haps. quite satisfied but they seem to consider
that they have got all they could fairly expect
The German Agrarian party on the other hano'
lied and determined. Conservative as they are'
they are Agrarians first and Conservatives
afterward They regard duty on corn as, 10
them and TO the whole agricultural interest,"
question of economical life and death Tne ~
mark duty-a reduction Of 30 per cent-means
death They scoffed at the consolation iaseV
held out to them by the Emperor, winch con-
sisted for the most part in a proposal 10 organ
ize an agricultural academy or what ne calico
a corporate body for the promotion OF asn-
cultural interests. They turn dear ears 10 n's
appeal this week in behalf Of the treaty. Ihey
have no confidence In the result Of an inquiry
into the silver question. which has been neio
out to them as affording hope Of relief. Tner
one hope and aim is the rejection OK tns
treaty which reduces the duty on cereals Tnsy
| demand nothing less than a sliding scale OF an-
ditional duties They are making a desperaSe
effort to turn out Count Caprivi. on whom
they look. Justly enough from their point o.
view, their enemy.
The contest on both sides is political as well
as economical. Count Won Capnvi-or' II ho'
| Count Won Capriv. his organs-responded 70 INC
! threat Of expulsion with threat OF oissoi"-
ton None could be more formidable, since .
general election with the conservatives appear
ing 10 the country against the Governments
would mean, in all probability. the rout, II not
! the ruin Of the Conservative party.
II ts political in another sense. since the
opening of German markets TO RUSSIAN wheas
IS expected TO bring about better and moro
fytendlv relations between the two Governments.
| The Conservatives reject this view. alleging
that trade and diplomacy are two distinct mat.
| ters That they are not so In the mind OK the
| German Emperor is evident from the speecn
| above referred to at Count Won Caprivis dinner.
| in which the all-wise Majesty OF Germany eA'
pressly affirmed the political Importance OF
| commercial understanding with Russia Its
rejection would be followed, he said. by tarn
war and presently by a real war Tnat n .
grave declaration. and the more so Tor MS staee-
ment that the Car had intervened personally
to carry this treaty from his love OF peace just
as the German Emperor now intervenes person.
auv The two Emperors are legisating for their
two countries.
Tho nolitical point Is one on which Europe
woud like TO hear Prince Bismarcks optnions
NOT only because he is the most experienced
of statesmen but because he Is, or has been,
M the same time an Agrarian and an an-
| vocate Of closer connection with Russia
So sharp is the antagonism between the
| two points Of view that less aorWs
diplomatist might think them irreconcilaoi~
Moreover Count Herbert Won Bismarck -
leader II not the leader, OF the Agrarans In tho
Rechstag and on this subject, as on others. nas
been accepted as exponent OF his fatners
principles Altogether the situation is eminentv
one for a full statement by Prince Bismarck ana
~ the recent interview between him and the En-
peror had any political significance whatever
now is a good time for it to be seen.
What the Hamburger Nachrichten' says yes
terday is interesting. but not conclusive. IL
traces the present difficulties to the Austro-Hun-
n
Prince Bismarck had he remained In omcA
mould have sanctioned the economic policy
odon,ed after his departure, but refrains from
advising the rejection OF the treaty. and ex-
nressly withholds all censure OF the Government
The article is. In short. ambiguous II not eQuivo-
cal and will give little encouragement to the
opposition.
There ia still another political consideration,
ord ono which gives to this economical Ques.
ton a meaning not merely international. ous
European. with direct bearing on the dread
issue of peace war. The prospect OF a COM
uerciaI treaty between Russia and Germany
has given the alarm to French susceptipiilues'
The French press has begun to ask whether
France is to be betrayed" by Russia. / do nos
see why the Russian press should not begin to
och whetber Russia is to be betrayed by France.
Is not France proposing I'd inciea'e ''e ou'' VI
Russian wheat?
The French Free-Traders, who are in hops
lass minority on the Tariff Commission, muse
Use such weapons as they find ready to theaS
hands They start for their own purposes Q
scare about the danger Of a protectionist policy
! To the Franco-Russan alliance. or understandings
or whatever it be. They say. with perfect truth.
, that France is raising her duties while Germany
ia lowering hers, and they invite you to infss
that Protection is unpatriotic. This involves the
) further inference that Russia is bound BY hss
GOOD will to France to refrain from selling be-
wheat wherever she can get the best price for u
,, As the French like logic in politics. they ougha
70 perceive that by similar process OF reason
: ing they are themselves bound by their 5000
, will to Russia to pay her higher price than
they pay other settlers. or-which comes 70 .ns
same th,ng-to reduce the duties on Russian
wheat. while they increase them on wheat from