Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-04
AGAINST GERMANY.
PROCLAMATION PROVIDING FOR
RETALIATION.
THE NATTER OF TONNAGE DUES.
Taxes. Direct or Indirect, being Inn
posed Upon American Vessels En-
Returns the Compliment

MAShlNGlONr -. - DelelhbtT D..
There is reason TO anticipate further
break In friendly relations between the
United States and Germany. The Prosi-
dent to-day issued the following import
ant proclamation. relative to unfriendly
acts Of the German Government:
'By the President Of the United States
a Proclamation:
Whereas. by a proclamation by the
President of the United States, dated
January twenty-sixth. eighteen hundred
ana lightweight. upon proof then APP
pearins satisfactory that no tonnage or
lighthouse dues or any equivalent tax
or taxes whatever were imposed upon
American vessels entering the ports Of
the empire Of Germany. either by the
Imperial Government or by the govern
nlonts Of the German maritime States
ana that vessels belonging to the United
States OF America and their cargOes> were
not required In German ports TO pay any
fee or dues OF any kind or nature, or any
import due higher or other than was
payable by German vessels. or their car
goes, IN the United States, the President
did thereby declare and proclaim, from
and after the date Of his said prOclama-
hundred and cighty-eight. the suspension
OF the collection of the whole Of the duty
of s cents per ton. not to exceed 30 cents
per ton per annum, imposed upon YES
sells entered IN the ports OF the United
States from any Of the ports Of the en-
pire Of Germany, by section OF the act
OF Congress approved June nineteenth
eighteen hundred and oighty-siX entitled,
An act TO abolish certain fees for OF
fetal services to American vessels. and
10 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 I'm his proclamation OF
January twenty-siXth. eighteen hundred
and lightweight, that the said suspen-
siOns should continue so long as the
reciprocal exemption 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;
GERMAN DUES IMPOSED.
"And, whereas It now appears upon
satisfactory proof that tonnage or light
house dues. or taxes equivalent thereto
are in fact imposed upon American YES
sells and their cargoes entered in ports
Of the German empire so that said pro
clamation Of January twenty-sixth, eigh-
teen hundred and eighty-eight. I'm its ope-
ration and effect. contravenes the mean
ing and intent of said section ?, of the
act Of Congress approved June nineteenth,
eighteen hundred and eighty-sx:
Now. therefore. I. Grover Cleveland
President Of the United States Of Ameri-
ca. by virtue of the aforesaid
section 2 Of the act. aforesaid. as well
as In pursuance Of the terms of said
proclamation itself do hereby revoke said
proclamation Of January 26. 1855. sus-
pending the collection of the whole Of the
duty of cents pei ton, not 10 exceed
80 cents per ton per annum (Which is
imposed by the aforesaid section Of said
acO. upon vessels entered in the ports
Of the United states from any Of the
ports Of the German empire; this revoca-
tion Of said proclamation TO take enect
or and after the 81 day Of January, 1877.
I'm witness whereof. | have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at tho city Of Washington. this
81 day Of December. In the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred ana
ninetv-sx, and Of the independence Of the
United States the one hundred and
GROVER CLEVELAND.
'By the President:
Richard Olney. Secretary Of State"
GERMAN UNFRIENDLINESS.
Evidences of an unfrendly disposition
on the part Of the German Government
towards the United States have been ac-
cumulating ever since the dinerential
duty on bounty-paid German beet-sugar
was imposed by the Wilson tariff law
American cattle have been excluded on
the pretext Of danger Of contagion from
Texas-fever, which cannot exist in north
ern climates; American hog products
have been excluded, even though cooked
and enclosed IN cans. on the allegation
that these cooked products might con-
tain trichinae. which cannot exist in
cooked food, and discriminating and pro-
bibitive duties against American cleo
glucose and petroleum. and many other
exports which formerly went to the Ger
man empire have followed one after
the other. All these matters have been
made the subject OF vigorous protest from
our government. much OF the cores
pondence having been conducted by Mr.
Edwin +. Uni. now our Ambassador In
Perrin. while he was our Assistant Secre-
tary OF state Mr.. Uhl is. therefore, par
ticularly well qualified 10 deal with the
existing situation, should II grow more
tense.
INTERESTING TO DIPLOMATS.
The news Of the issuance Of the Presi-
dents rotaliatory proclamation against
Germany was received with intense inte-
rest by the diplomatic corps. especially
bv the Ambassadors II Great Britain and
France. An inkling Of the intention had
reached them ten days ago and had been
communicated 20 their respective govern
menta Both ambassadors have been dill
gently looking up the official correspon-
dence bearing on the subject. which IS
both interesting and pointed. The re-
imposition OF tonnage dues on German
vessels Is understood 10 be due TO quiet
Investigation, conducted during the past
year By Mr.. Chamberlain. the United
States Commissioner OF Navigation, who
went abroad for that purpose He found
that while the Imperial Government or
Germany, as nation. did not impose any
tonnage dues on American vessels ar
irving az German ports, the maritime
States which compose part Of the German
empire, do impOse-such tax, I'm violation
OF the treaty existing between the two
- countries The German tonnage tax now
! being imposed Il about i-2 cents per ton.
or more than the tax revoked by the
President In his proclamation OF January
Is, lsSs. and which IL now revived.
The new proclamation affects all ves-
sells coming from German ports and en-
tering the United States. regardless OF the
nationality OF the vessel From June 30
1883. 10 June 80 1894. vessels to the num-
Der Of $500 with A tonnage OF l00c0,0D0
fous were eyempted from tonnage dueg