The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-05
Proposed Tariff Bill Not Received
With Favor.
FOREIGN NATIONS MUCH INTER
ESTED IN THE MEASURE.

-
Features Likely To Be Failure.
Washington. April 4.-The foreign en-
bassies and legations in Washington IRE
watching the progress Of the tariff bill
with care as it materially Affects oil
commercial nations. Reports are being
forwarded to the various foreign offices
and these In turn are being made public
abroad for the information of concerns
shiping goods to the United States. Nat
urally the feeling among the diplomats
is not favorable to the measure, ~ II
will restrict many of the lines. of foreign
trade In this country.
The representatives of nations which
are most concerned with reciprocity do
not regard the reciprocity features of the
present bill with favor. Up to the pres-
ens time no protests have been fled from
any source although 1t is said certain.
representations from the Argentine gov
ernment are on the. way to the minister
here Some Of the ministers have talked
unofioially with Secretary Sherman aa.
to the general character Of the bill, but
they have become satisfied that the
branch had no desire to exert Influence
on the legislative branch toward keep.
ing down tariff rates.
The British EN- bassy strictly adheres
to the rule that 1t has no concern with
matters Of internal legislation. AL
though English trade is moro affected
BY the bill than that of any other ooun-
try, no representations or protests of any
kind have been made by the English
government. Although Canada 10 Brit
ish colony. its makes Its own tariff laws,
which operate against Kngland a. we'll
a. the United States.
The talk Of retaliation on the part Of
the Canadian government = confined to
Dominion quar- ters and such retaliation,
II resofted to woald not require the
approval OF the home governments. The
German Embassy have received no in
structions from tho home government to
the tariff bill, at the same time the great
strides made BY Germany 81 an indus
trial nation, awe special interest to the
present legislation. as IL will affect lines
Of German goods coming to this country.
It is considered likely that com msr-
cinl warfare will result, which WIN lead
to an increase Of tariff rates IN Germany.
As Austria Hungary is closely allied
with Germany In commerce as we'll as
foreign affairs, it 10 said that tariff In
Grease by Germany would be followed BY
A Austrta- Hungary and other central Eu-
ropean countries. -
The French officials here waiting aot-
lon on the bill by the Senate, regarding
tho present condition Of the measure al
very imperfect. Spain's interest In the
bill arc due mainly to the trade between
Cuba and the United States on sugar,
tobacco, etc.
The South American countries are
most affected by the reciprocity features.
Butsthe ministers from these countries
say that little ID expected in the way Of
practical reciprocity from the present.
measure.
Brazil is mainly affected In its pro-
ducts Of ooffes, rubber and hidss, and
Argentine in Its wool and hides.
The Japanese authorities feel that sons
of their industries, principally silks
silk handkerchief. straw mattings and
jute rugs-will suffer severely by the
bill. They have made NO protest, how
ever, although the extent OF the mutual
trade gradually being built up bstween
the two countries may lead to sope re-
presentations being submitted, mainly
for the purpose of information.