The herald., 1897-10-31
Until He Wonders at His
Health
The NEW GERMAN MINISTER
TALKS OF THE WORK HE HOPES
TO PERFORM
Various Teutonic Industries Hit by
the Dingley Tariff, but Sugar
Gets It Hardest
Associated Press Special Wire.

BERLIN, Oct. Copyright, 1S97)
The new German ambassador to the
United States, DIR. Won Helleben, re-
Gently Prussian minister to Wurtem-
burg. and formerly QS92-9S) German
minister to the United States, left Ber-
lin on Wednesday last to spend fort
night on his family estate previous to
his departure for America, on Novem-
ber 9th. He has received several very
unusual marks of distinction and conf
dence from the emperor during the week.
and the king of Wurtemburg has con-
ferred his highest decoration upon him,
the grand cross of the order of the crown.
Before DR.. Won Helleben left the city.
he was interviewed by the correspondent
of the Associated Press, as his mission
is of special importance, in view of sew
eral questions in which the two coun-
tries are involved, notably the tariff
and the Samoan question. In the course
of this conversation the newly appointed
ambassador said: II wonder 1 have not
got diabetes l have been dosed with
sugar in Berlin. l mean, of course, the
remonstrance of our sugar men against
the unfavorable sugar imports provi-
sion of the Dingley tariff, and explana-
tions and technical discussions on that
topic that l have had to listen to at the
various ministries. The sugar question.
1 am sure, Is what interests us most
vitally and strikes us the hardest in the
new tariff, and against that breach of
our existing treaty with the United
States vigorous protests will, Of course,
be renewed. AS yet it is too early to tell
exactly in which branches of industry
the Dingley tariff most affects German
exports. Another three months must
elapse before that can be determined,
but am quite certain that many of its
provisions hit US hard. These questions
consider, and so does my government,
as being of the first Importance. The
Samoan and other questions are COM
paratively secondary. 1t is fortunate
that the United States is represented by
so able and well-meaning man as Mr..
White. In going to America l go to
a field I know by previous experience,
with the best intentions, and by that
mean the intentions Of my government
as well.'
| AS to what his instructions We're re-
garding the conclu .Jn of reciprocity
treaties with the United States, DR.. Won
Helleben would not give a direct an
swer, but he intimated that in general
way he was instructed to open negotia-
tions. He said he was personally ac-
quainted with both John A. Kasson, the
new special commissioner on reciprocity
treaties appointed by President McKin-
ley, and Mr.. Kasson's secretary, Chgp-
man Coleman, for many years secretary
of the United States legation in Berlin
The new ambassador is in vigorous
health and is prepared to enter upon
hard siege for his country's sake. In
the meanwhile the German government
has continued to ignore the announce
ment made by the United States en-
bassy that the latter is ready to open
negotiations on the subject of reciproc-
ity, and neither has the government re-
piled to the protest of the United States
embassy against the exclusion from
Germany of American live cattle and
fresh beef. The embassy, in fact, ex-
poets no direct answer to either of these
representations, but it believes DR.. Won
Helleben will carry with him the an
swers.
At the request of the foreign office,
Consul General Goldschmidt has fur
nished complete figures regarding the
exports to the United States during the
past two trimestres.
In regard to the demand of the German
bicycle manufacturers for an increase in
the duty on American wheels, the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press under
stands that movement is on foot to
comply with it, Hitherto American
wheels have been admitted into Ger
many under the tariff schedule govern
ing imports of iron and steel, while in
the near future they will be under a re-
classification, graded as vehicles, on
which duty may be put as high as $50
marks.
In connection with the Bavarian diets
motion to eliminate the most-favored-
nation clause of the treaty with the
United States, it is pointed out that the
bundesrath alone has the power to settle
the question, and report also credits the
bundesrath with favoring the abroga-
ton, but thus far Prussia opposes it. in
spite OF strong Agrarian pressure, while
| SaXony and Bavaria and some of the
smaller states favor the abrogation.
The Liberal and commercial newspapers
declare such a step would be deplorable
and refer to the renewed demands of the
United States for the withdrawal Of the
prohibition against importation of
American beef as being piece of impu-
dence.
GERMAN GOSSIP
The court Of last resort has declared
the Prussian government S recent action
in dissolving meetings at which the
Polish language was used to be uncon-
stitutional and illegal.
Ihe national congress of German
journalists and writer's at Leipsic has
petitioned the reichstag to change the
existing laws so as to prohibit the pres
ent mode of Furnishing press offenders
by treating editors as common male
factors on par with thieves and mur-
derers, keeping them in chains and dun
geons and giving them the same fare AS
common criminals.
winter army maneuvers on a large
scale have been planned by the emperor
Emperor William far some time nast
mas been greatly incensed at the u,,-
favorable comments made in the Amer.
lean and British nawrpora ,.~z. -,