The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-04

1897 was expressly recognized by both par
tles. inasmuch Hereunder rights mad |
been claimed and obligations fulfilled Inc
minister for foreign affairs then clted IN
stances in support Of his observations.
TREATY RIGHTS.
Baron Marschall Won Bieberstein further
said that when, in 1885 the imperial chan
cellor issued q notification concerning the
Spanish commercial treaty with the United
States, Sweden and Denmark were included
in the list OF most favored nations. When
doubts were expressed as to whether the
United States was one of those nations,
Prince Bismarck declared the question
must be answered in the affirmative be-
cause of the existence of special treaties
with individual states, which could not be
separated from the empire Germany, he
continued had frequently obtained recOg-
milton of her rights from the United States
by virtue of the PruSSian treaty. for in
stance, IN 1854 in connection with the Ding
ley shlpplng act. He also recalled the fact
that when the United States was upon the
point of concluding a treaty with Spain
granting exemptions from duty on sugar
from POrtO klco, Prince Bismarck demand
ed that the exemption be extended without
delay TO Germany. The minister for for
eign affairs then explained there We're pre-
cedents on the side OF the United States
The latter, at the time of the negotiations
relative to the Dngley shipping act, did not
raise the objection that the PrusSian treaty
was not still in force. The United States
had also made represe ntatons in 1884 on ac-
railroad tariffs to American petroleum, for
the benefit of Russian petroleum. Upon
that occasion the United States minister
IN note to the Foreign Oftice. referred to
the existence of the most favored relation
ship by virtue of the treaty of 1928, and
added that the treaty was particularly APP
pHcable against any kind of difterential
treatment in the way of taxation or i'm
posts of one government to the detriment
The minister for foreign affairs did not
thnk Count Won hanltz was right in
ascribing all the fluctuations of German
american trade to tariff legislation. In the
speakers opinion the itful changes which
are peculiarly characteristic of American
economic life have had a greater erect
upon trade. Il confess, continued Baron
Marschall Won Bieberstein Il fear that the
view in America is that we have obtained
the greater advantages from the treaties
That is mistaken opinion, and If legisla-
ton is taken on that basis a disappont-
ment will certainly follow. No doubt we
are pound 10 give the United states the
tariff reduction recently granted to Austria
and 1t would be a breach of good taith, IT,
after claiming favored nation treatment
ourselves by virtue of d treaty, we sud
denly denied our own contention when
America asked the same OF US. II, form
erly, in spite of the clearly defined state of
affairs, negotiations occurred, resulting in
an exchange of notes, it was because the
Mckinley tariff raised doubts when we
were legally assured 1t would complete
reciprocity. That agreement was confirmed
by favored treatment and made clear how
fresh legislation would affect it.
Il make these explanations because now
protesting pressing
rights and we wish to avoid provoking re-
joinders without legal basis. BY the con-
cession of favored treatment the United
States in noWise abandoned the right to
change the tariff any more than we under
took to permanently reduce the wheat duty
31a marks The entire bearing of the Sar-
atoga notes is limited by tariff legislation.
The United States is only bound to grant
us freedom from duty for certain products
While freedom from sugar is granted TO
other states, The same applies to us in
respect to wheat.
WHY A PROTEST WAS MADE.
1.-The introduction of general sugar
tariff of 40 per cent. in the Wilson act was
no breach of the favored nation right; but
a surtax on sugar from bounty-paying
states would have been a breach, and we
Immediately protested. The United States
admitted the justice of the protest and
President Cleveland called on Congress to
remove the surtax. The House of Repre-
sentatves acceded, but the Senate refused
We have not followed up our protest, first
because the United States admitted, legal
ly, our contention, and secondly, because
the fears that our sugar exports TO the
United States would be diminished nave
not been realized. We, however, again pro-
tested against the surtaX of the Dtngley
bill, declaring that in the event OF its ad9p-
tion Germany would nave TO consider
whether she could continue the advantages
of American imports, especially agricultural
The American reply" the minister for
foreign affairs explained stated that the
matter was about to be referred to the
chairman of the Senate committee, and that
negotiations would then be entered INTO.
We did not protest against the other Ding
ley bill provisions which injured German
industry the ground that we belleVe
those interested should complain ana 1t
might be objected that whoever aValls NM
self of his own right Injuries nobody else.
In fact, the independence of both sides IS
not affected by the faVored-nations clause;
but it does not follow that this independ-
iS inaSmnCh state
can permanently reckon on a foreign mar
ket for it's products if it closes its own mar
ket to foreign products. 1t would be the
greatest mistake to adopt definite resolu-
tiOnS in the present unsettled state OF al
fairs. Doubtless the position is difficult,
even serious, but can only ask the Reich
stag to have confidence in the federated
governments. l believe they are conscious
of the difficulty of the task, and when de-
cisive resolutions must be taken they will
combine with the tirmness which our right
fully warrants, the COOL calm considera-
ton to which the great worldwide inter-
ests involved have Well-founded claim"
applause from the Left)
DR. Barth Radical UnioniSt opposed the
proposal of reprisals. He said the difteren-
tial treatment of sugar was certainly a
blow to the favored nation treaty, but he
claimed it did not call for diplomatic nego-
tiations. Every firm exporting sugar to the
United States should contest the imposition
legally.
Herr Heyl urged reprisals on petroleum
Herr MarschaIl Won Bieberstein asked
what it was proposed to substitute If the
treaty was denounced. A country like Ger
many, he added could not pursue a com
mercial policy with Independent customs
tariffs alone.
Herr Richter Peoples party, favored
tariff conventions and deprecated display
of passion in dealing with these questions.
Count Won Kardoff said the Rightists
could not have implicit confidence in the
government on economic questions Count
Won KantZ's question, he asserted was a.
sort of vote of censure against the Amer
leans. adding that he would not have been
allowed to take such measures III the time
of Prince Bismarck
Count Won Limburg- -Strum Conserva-
tive, also attacked Baron MarSchaIl Won
Bieberstein, and the matter was then
dropped.
OTYU rUR ANN IrNENrErc