The evening times., 1897-04-08

The first foreign government to enter
formal and official protest against the
proposed rates of the Dingley bill is that
of Germany Baron Thielmann, the Ger
man ambassador, has presented to Secre-
tary Of State Sherman note, in which he
protests against the differential duty
which tile new bill proposes to levy ON i'm
ported sugar The letter of the German
ambassador vas today formally transmitted
by Secretary Sherman to the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate, the Republican mem
bers of which are holding daily sessions at
the Arlin gton, and are devoting themselves
TO the reconstruction OF the Din9ey bill.
The note of the German ambassador
maintains Il tone of courtesy, but It's
meaning is clear between the lines. III
limits itself to a protest against the dlI-
ferential duty on sugar imposed by the
Dingley bill, and states that this iinpo-
sition of the duty is plainly in contrayen-
ton of the rights which Germany enjoys
under existing treaties with the Govern
nent of the United States A protest was
made in 1894, when the Wilson taIiff act
imposed a differential one-tenth OF one
cent; but the Dingley bill, say the Ger
man ambassador, in his note, goes even
further, by imposing a differential equal
to the export premium paid by foreign gov
ernments to sugar-growers.
Baron Thielrnann claims that this Govern
ment has acknowledged the full justifica-
ton of the protests OF the German govern
ment against the differentiai duties. BASED
upon export premiums paid by che German
government to It's sugar producers, as was
clearly set forth in report made by Sec
retary of State Gresha to President Cleve-
land in October, 1894, and that President
Cleveland himself indorsed the position Of
his Secretary OF State by recommending
the discontinuance OF the differendai du-
ties provided for in the Wilson act In his
next annual message to Congress.
The amba ssador expresses the polite
hope that the present Administration viii
use its best efforts with Congress to in
form it OF the vast Importance OF existing
treaty Obligations, and the grave conse-
auences that might result from delib-
crate violation OF these obligations. Thee
can be no mistaking the threat which
the German ambassador conceals behind
this courteous language. But there are
pursued by the government OF Germany.
in case the proposed sugar duties remain
unchanged.
The ambassador reminds the Secretary
of State Of the negotiations which took
place at Saratoga in 1891 between Baron
Won Mumm. then charge daffaires OF the
German legation. and Mr.. John W. Foster,
| representing the Government OF the United
states.
At this conference an understanding was
reached whereby the United states was
to admit sugar free from Germany under
the Authority OF the reciprocity clause
of the Mckinley act OF 1890, in return
for which Germany would admit the i'm
portation from the United States of its
hog products. 1t will be remembered that
Germany had drawn up such stringent
code of alleged sanitary rules governing
the importa ton of American pork as To
practically create an embargo. The un-
DERIVING conditions on which this treaty
OF reciprocity Of 1891 was based was
modified, says the German ambassador, by
the Wilson act of 1894, greatly to the
| disadvantage OF Germany, and the pending
act would create a situation sill Iilore to
| be deplored 10y the German government
The question, says he, must inevitably
| arise on the part of the German govern
| ment, If the proposed schedules Of the
Dingley bill become law, whether Germany
| can any longer feel herself bound to con-
| tinue the existing treaty obligations under
| which she accords to American agricultural
products all the privileges which, being
now accorded to Austria, Russia and GER
| tain other nations, she is extending TO the
| United States, under the provisions of the
'most favored nation" clause in existing
| treaties.
| The Italian ambassador and the minister
| from the Netherlands have also filed pro-
| tests. but none OF these is couched in as
| forcibIe terms as that from the German dip
Iomat In view OF the friction already ex-
| listing between the German government and
| our own, resulting from commercial causes.
| there is apprehension lest further
| difficulties will give rise 10 grave dip
| lomatic complications between the two
| countries.
| The increase in duties proposed in the
| Dingley bill affect German products in al
| most every schedule particularly in tex tile
1 fabrics, gloves, wines and sugar, the dis
| eliminating duty on sugars imported from
| countries paying an export bounty having
| been framed S it is expressly for the p1r-
| pose of reaching German sugars.
| Increased duties are also imposed on a
! large number of articles 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 Mckinley
| law. The Netherlands are affected by
l. on large number of articles.
| the principal one being Sumatra tobacco,
| which is being imported for cigar wrap
| pers The Mckinley rate Of 81 per pound
4 or 1875 per cent, has been restored on this
| tobacco.