The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-04

Vessels Under the Kaiser's Flag
to Pay Duties in Ameri-
can Ports.
A Result of German Hostility to the
Shipping and Export Articles
of This Country.

WA0h1NOIONi ~. ", DeC. o.-1ucIo
is reason to anticipate further break in
friendly relations between the United
States and Germany. The President to-
day issued the following proclamation of
retaliation for unfriendly acts of the Ger
man Government:
WHEREAS, By proclamation of the Presi-
dent of the United States, dated January 26,
1888, upon proof then appearing satisfactory
that no tonnage or lighthouse duties, or any
equivalent tax or taxes whatever, were i'm
posed upon American vessels entering the
ports of the empire of Germany, either by the
imperial Government or by the Governments
of the German maritime states, and that YES
sells belonging to the United States of America
and their cargoes were not required in Ger
man ports to pay any fee or duty OF any kind
of nature, or any import due, higher or other
than was payable by German vessels or their
cargoes in the United States, the President
did thereby declare and proclaim from
and after date of his proclamation of
January &c, 1858, the suspension of the
collection of the whole of the duty of 6 cents
per ton, not to exceed 80 cents per ton per
annum imposed upon vessels entered. in the
ports of the United States from any OF the
ports of the empire of Germany by section of
the act of Congress approved June 10, 1886,
en- titled can act to abolish certain fees Tor
official services to American vessels and to
amend the laws relating to Shipping
Commissioners, seamen and owners of
vessels and for other purposes" and
whereas, The President did further de-
clare and proclaim in his proclamation of
January 26, 1888, that the said suspensions
should continue so long as the reciprocal ex-
emption of vessels belonging to citizens
of the United States and their cargoes
should be continued in the said ports OF the
empire of Germany and no longer: and
whereas, it now appears upon satisfactory
proof that tonnage lighthouse dues, or
taxes equivalent thereto, are in TACT imposed
upon American vessels and their cargoes en-
tered in German ports higher and other tina n
those imposed upon German vessels or their
cargoes entered in the ports of the United
States, so that the said proclamation of Janu-
airy 26, 1888. in its operation and effect con-
travenes the meaning and intent OF said Sec
ton of the act of Congress approved June
10, 1886;
Now therefore I, Grover Cleveland, Presi-
dent of the United States of America, by
virtue of the aforesaid section of the act
aforesaid, as well as in pursuance of the
terms of the said proclamation itself, do
hereby revoke my said proclamation of Janu-
airy 20, 1883, suspending the collection of the
whole OF the duty of 3 cents per ton, not to
exceed 80 cents per ton per annum (Which is
imposed by the aforesaid section OF said act),
upon vessels entered in the ports of the United
States from any OF the ports of the German en-
pre- the revocation of said proclamation to
take effect on and after the I'd day of January,
1897.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States
to be affixed. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Evidences Of an unfriendly disposition
of the German Government toward the
United States have been accommodating
ever since the differential duty on bounty
paid German beet sugar was imposed by
the Wilson tariff law. American cattle
have been excluded on the pretext of dan
ger of contagion from Texas fever, which
cannot exist in northern climates. Ameri-
can hog products have heen excluded, even
though cooked and inclosed in cans, on the
allegation that these cooked products
might contain trichine, which cannot
exist in cooked food. Discriminating and
prohibitive duties against American oleo-
margarine, glucose and petroleum and
many other exports which formerly went
to the German empire have followed one
after the other.
All these matters have been made the
subject of vigorous protest from our Gov
eminent, much of the correspondence
having been conducted by Edwin F. Uni,
now our ambassador in Berlin, while he
was our Assistant Secretary of State.
Mr.. Uhl is therefore particularly well quail
fed to deal with the existing situation
should it grow more tense