The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-05
FOREIGNERS INTERESTED.
Closely Watching the Progress of the
Dingley Tarif bill.

WASHINGTON April 4.-The foreign em-
bassies and legations In Washington are
watching the progress Of the tariff bill
with great care. as it materially affects all
commercial nations. Reports are being for
warded TO the various foreign offices. and
these in turn are being made public abroad
for the information of concerns shipping
goods TO the United States. Naturally, the
feeling among the diplomats Is not favor-
able to the measure. IL will restrict
many of the lines Of foreign trade with
this country. Among the representatives
of the larger countries the expression Is
general that there will be p large decrease
i'm imports and that this In turn will be
followed by an increase of duties against
American goods. The representatives or
nations which most concerned with
reciprocity do not regard the reciprocity
features Of the present bill with favor.
Without exception. however members OF
the diplomatic corps are refraining from
exerting any influence towards keeping
down the duties. The principle Is accepted
on ali hands that this government has the
right TO frame It's tariff as it sees fit and
that it is purely domestic affair. with
which foreign ministers have NO .fght to
concern themselves. Up 10 the present
source. although it is said certain represen-
tations from the Argentine government are
on the way TO the minister here. Some OF
the ministers have talked unofficially wfth
Secretary Sherman as TO the general char
acter of the bill. but they have become
satisfied that the executive branch had no
desire TO exert influence the legislative
branch towards keeping down tarin rates.
The British embassy strictly adheres TO
the rule that il has no concern with the
matters OF internal legislation. \ full re-
port on the bill is being made TO the Lon
don Foreign Office. and the government Will
the measure as means OF informing Eng
lish manufacturers OF the new conditions
with which they must deal These steps.
however. are entirely Tor the purpose OF in
forming the home government and the peo-
pie Although English trade n more az
fected by the bill than that or any other
country 10 representations or protests OF
any kind have been MADE by the English
government. Although Canada Il "A Brit
ish colony N makes its own tarin laws.
which oDerate against England as well as
the United States. The talk of retaliation
on the part OF Canada is confined TO do
minion quarters and such retaliation. II re-
sorted to- would not require the approval
Of the home government.
At the German embassy no instructions
have been received from the home govern
ment relative 10 the tarin bill and there n
no deviation from the view that the forms-
ton OF the tariff Is entirely domestic
matter At the same time the great strides
made by Germany as an industrial nation
gives special interest TO the present legis-
lation as IL will AFFECT many lines OF Ger
man goods coming 10 this country. IL is
considered likely that commercial war
fare will result. which viii lead 10 an In
crease OF tariff rates In Germany. As Aus
trfa- Hungary - closely allied with Ger
many. IN commerce as we'll as foreign AZ