The Portland daily press., 1897-04-09
THEY DON'T LIKE 1T.
Foreigners Naturally UnfriendIy to the
Proposed Tariff Bill.

New YORK; April IA hofaIo wash
ington dispatch says, There 10 grave
danger of commercial warfare between
the United States and several Of the most
Important commercial nations of Europe
in the event Of the enactment of the
Dingley bill into law in substantially the
same form in which it passed the House.
The German Ambassador, the Italian
ambassador and the Minister from the
Netherlands to the United States, acting
under instructions from their govern
ments. have filed protests against the
proposed legislation with the secretary Of
soate, and these protests have been for
warded by Secretary Sherman to the
Senate committee on finance. These pro.
Jesus, while couohed In diplomatic
language, plainly call attention to the
eHeot which the proposed bill would have
on tne countries concerned In the event
OF les passage. That of Baron Won Thiel-
mann, the German Ambassador, is par
tioulariy foroible, amounting almost to a
direct threat of retaliation by the Ger
man government against the United
States The Senate committee, having
been put in possession Of the information
contained in these communications,
must decide whether or not q policy
should be pursued which promises to lead
to grave foreign complications.
The German protest is particularly
significant, not only for the reason that
it IL more foroibly worded than the others
that hsve been received. but also because
of the existing FRICTION between that gov
eminent and the United States growing
out of the restrictions which have been
placed by Germany on the Importation Of
American meat products aud the recent
action of the United States In imposing
tonnage and port duties on German ships
entering ports of the United States
Should the pending tariff bill, which
proposes to tax alDaoss to the psohibitory
point many articles of German produe-
that the German government would re-
taltate by imposing still greater restric-
tions upon American products. In view
of the friction already existing, 1t would
endanRer grave diplomatic complications
between the two countries, and it is not
improbab that President Mckinley had
this possibility in mind when he selected
as Ambassador to Germany Andrew d.
White, who Ia generally regarded as one
of the best men who could have been
chosen for this difficult post, not only on
account of his recognized ability, but also
because he is personally acceptable to the
German government.
The increase in duties proposed In the
Ding1sy bill affect German products iu
almost every schedule, particularly in
textile fabrics, gloves, wines and s. ,ar,
from countries paying an export bounty
having been framed as IL Is expressly for
the purpose of reaching German sugars.
Increased duties are also imposed on
large number of article imported from
Italy, including marbles, fruits, nuts
and olive oils. On many of these articles
such as fruits and olive oil, the duties
are made higher than under the McKin.
ley law. The Netherlands are affected by
the principal one being Sumatra tobacco.
which is being imported for cigar
wrappers. The Mckinley rate OF 90 per
pound or 1855 per cent, has been restored
on this tobacco.
While protests have not vet been re-
oeived from any other countries than the
three named, the action OF the Senate is
being awaited with much interest by the
representatives of nearly every action
maintaining diplomatic relations with
the United States. Though both England
and France are greatly interested In the
bill, neither of these countries hes
officially communicated with the Stata
Department regarding 1t.
Many special duties have been imposed
for the express purpose of shutting out
Canadian products, and, az the Canadian
Parliament has complete jurisdiction
over tho tariff laws Of t Q Dominion, it
is not improbable that some retaliatory
legislation may be expected from that
quarter. The South American countries
ara most affected by the proposed re-
ciprocity provisions of the bill, and the
general disposition of the representative
of those governments in Washington is
to favor provision looking to the nego-
tiation of new commercial treaties be-
tween their countries and the United
States.
DR.. Roberts Asks for Divorce.