New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-05
WATCHING THE TARIFF BILL.
HOW IT rs VIEWED BY REPRESENTA-
TIvES OF OTHER NATIONS.

A
CAN MAKE SUCH TARIFF AS 1T PLEAsEs'
WASHINGTON, April 4.-The foreign EMBASSIES anu
legations In Washington are watching the progress
oy the Tariff bill with great care, as II fna'erlE
affects all commercial nations. Reports are p'i"5
forwarded TO the various foreign Offices ana 'Hes
in turn are being made public abroad LOT tlic III
formation Of concerns shipping goods 10 the United
States Naturally the feeling among the ulp'o.
mats is not favorable TO the measure since II WIN
restrict many of the lines OF foreign trace WIN
this country. Among the representatives Oh t"e
larger countries the expression Is genera! tn"t
there will he a large decrease in imports and that
this IN turn will be followed by an increase OF dn-
tics against American goods. The representatives
NJ nations most concerned with reciprocity DO not
regard the reciprocity features Of the present Dill
with favor. nj,
without exception. however members OF the up
omatic Corps are refraining from exerting any in
Auence toward keeping down the duties. The prin-
ciple is accepted on all hands That this Govern
ment has the right 10 frame its tariff as 1t sees
fit and that II is purely domestic AFFAIR with
which foreign Ministers have no right to concern
themselves. Up to the present tine no protests
have been filed from any source. although IT is
said that certain representations from the ArGen-
tine Government are on the way TO It's Minister
here, Some OF the Ministers have talked unofi-
clay with Secretary Sherman as to the general
character OF the bill. but they have become salts
fed that the executive branch had no desire TO eX-
ert influence the legislative branch toward Keep
ing down tariff rates.
The British Embassy strictly adheres TO the rule
that it has no concern with matters of internal leg
isla,ion full report the bill is being made
to the London Foreign Office. and the Govern
ment will take steps TO give the widest publicity
to the measure. as means 81 informing EnghsA
manufacturers of the new lditions with which
they must deal These steps however. are en-
trey for the purpose of informing the home Gov
ernmen; and the people. While English trade is
more affected by the bill than chat OF any other
country. representations or protests of any kind
have been made by the English Government AL
though Canada is British colony II makes its
own tariff laws which operate against England as
well as the United States. The talk Of retaliation
on the part of Canada is confined 10 Dominion
quarters and such retaliation. II resorted to. would
not require the approval of the home Government.
At the German Embassy no instructions have
been received from the home Government relative
TO the Tariff BILL and there Is no deviation from
the view that the formation OF tariff IS entirely
a domestic matter. A. the SANE time the grea;
strides made by Germany as an Industrial nation
give special interest TO the present legislation, as
to this country. II IS considered likely that a
mercial warfare will result, which may lead TO
Hungary is closely allied with Germany in com
meree' as well as forelgn affairs; it is said that
Austria-H Hungary and other Central European coun-
tries.
the bill by the Senate ana regard the present con
dluon OF the measure as very imperfect. They
officials that there IS no ground for protest. be-
cause the tariff Is domestic affair Ii is felt
that the effect of the bill Will he particularly Sc
we're on the fine woollen goods and silks coming
from France.
SPANS interests in the bill due mainly 10 the
trade between Cuba and the United States IN sugar
tobacco, etc. Thus far. however. the officials have
been too busy with affairs relating 10 the insnr-
recuOn 10 give much time 70 the tariff. report
the bill Mn be sent to Madrid. mainly for tho
purpose OF Information. for here. too. there is no
purpose Of questioning the right of every country
make its tariff il nt
The South American countries mos. affected
by the reciprocity features. but the Ministers from
these sections say that little is expected in the
way OF practical reciprocity from the present meas
ure Brazil is mainly affected in its products of
coffee, rubber and hides. and the Argentine Repub-
lie in its wool ana hides Press reports from the
Argentine state that representations concerning he
Tariff bill have been forwarded to the Minisfc~
here. but up TO the present time they have not
been received. The Minister. DR.. Merou. has filed
no protest and his talks with Government on
Gals In Washington have been unofficial.
Inc japanese authorities feel that some OF their
Industries, principally silk handkerchiefs. straw
mating and jute rugs, will suffer severely by the
Pill They have made protest however al
though the extent of the mutual trade gradually
being built up between the two countries may lea
70 SUBMISSION OF some representations mainly for
the purposes OF information