New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-16
TALKING OF RETALIATION.
A GREAT ADO IN EUROPE OVER THE
PENDING TARIFF BILL.
FOREIGN NATIONS REGARD WITH DIsMAY THE
PROSPECT OF LOSING THE IMMENSELY
VALUABLE MARKET OF THE UNITED
STATES THROUGH REVISION



and politicians. should be needed by Congress, there
would never be another revision OF the tariff except
In the line Of reduction Of duties. Not only the
United Kingdom, France, Germany and the otner
commercial and manufacturing countries OF Eu-
rope, but Japan also, seem instinctively TO know
that the market Of the United States is worth more
than all the other markets OF the world COM
bined and it is natural therefore, that they shouia
regard with the keenest solcitude any proposed
change of the tariff laws whether in the direction
of higher or lower duties, and should regard as an
act of commercial hostility any legislation de-
signed 10 protect American Industrial interests
against unequal foreign competition. so strong Is
this feeling In some quarters that extreme meas
ures of retaliation arc openly proposed and strongly
advocated For example. in Austria-Hungary the
manufacturers have demanded that the Govern
ment shall enter into negotiations with other Gov
ernments OF Europe with view to commercial
and Industrial alliance against the United States
Whether this concert OF the Powers" II estab-
lished would be any more effective and salutary IN
its operations than that which has attempted 10
control the relations between Turkey and greece IS
open to question but that 1t Is seriously proposed
and strongly urged is certain
Probably there IS no other country In Europe IN
which so much ado is made over every proposition
70 revise the tariff Of the United States in Ger
many which country certainly has no claim 10
special consideration, in view OF the various ana
severe restrictions and prohibitions when she mas
laid upon the export trade OF this country Ger
man statesmen do not wait to what Congress
has done before opening the discussion OF what
shall be done by Germany. An interesting ana IN
structive Illustration OF this Is found In the report
of the debate In the Rechstag on May 3. trans
lation of which has been received by the Secretary
Of State from the United States Ambassador IN
Berlin. Tho debate arose on the Interpretation OF
Count Kanitz Conservative and his colleagues
s.ar thn NJ
tended to uphold the agreement made In the notes
exchanged on August o. 1884, regardless OF the APP
preaching increase OF the tariff OF the North Amer
lean Union, and In particular OF the more acute
diferential treatment OF the Importation OF Ter
man sugar. Tho Agreement referred 10 was inc
reciprocity arrangement between the United states
and Germany, under the provisions OF Section
OF the Tariff act OF 1890. which was repeated by the
wilson German act OF August Is. ls9i
COUNT KANITz's SPEECH IN THE REICHs-
TAG.
The discussion was opened by Count Kanitz in
an exhaustive speech, the summary OF WHICH ii's
twenty-one typewriter folios.
In the Introductory portion Of his speech he SAID
that he had not brough: the subject FORWARD lot
the purpose of making threats. for threats wouid
he of no avail" but "for tire purpose OF showing
the presumable consequences of this newest IN
crease of the tariff in a quiet and intelligent man.
ner" Nevertheless. in the latter portion OF MS
speech Count Kanitz not only advocated CONNER
cial retaliation in the pending legislation
should become law. but suggested various means 10
make It effective. He also boldly declared that the
pending legislation had been proposed. not with
any design or expectation of increasing the reve-
nue. but solely for the purpose or curtailihs Ter
man and other foreign exports to the United states
In dealing with this phase Of the subject he SAID
some things which were calculated to raise douD's
in the American mind as to the fitness ana accu-
racy Of his knowledge respecting Industrial colui-
tions In the United States Here Is a specimen:
Factories manufacturing cotton goods exist espe
cially in the Northern States-the so-caIed New o
England States-but of late they also exist IN tn9
Where mors favorable conditions exist for cotton
factories I5These newly erected cotton iac'oriGs ia
the 1a'e with those OF the Northern
States. 1t is Acknowledged In the Norsn , t ns
iberefoTe @ Certain division OF territory
has been agreed upon Inc North say hu 10 an
aouivaIent ask for ourselves tho entire linen INDUS
try In future we intend TO manuIaG,t1 r U1
tarir That the cotton industry is to be an Amer
lean monopoly in the future is az bess are
very unpleasant prospect for our Industry one
need be asonshsd that the rc S,sh 10 Is nut n end
10 this arrangement
Count Kanitz dwelt at considerable length on the
statistics OF trade between Germany ana the United
States and also between Europe ana tho Ohiteo
States and complained that the latter not content
with the heavy balance In It's favor. was now try
,rg IN Increase Il by laying higher duties on I'M
norts He referred especially TO the heavy imports
10 Germany from the United States OF cotton.
ne,roleum lard, copper and corn and advocated
obtaining these articles from other countries III
doing so he disclosed tho fact that Tor TWO years
mast the Prusslan Chamber OF Commerce mas peen
engaged In efforts TO promote tho Importation anu
use of Russian petroleum. to the total or partial
.ba Arpe
.rorts have been seconded by the Prussian Gov
eminent
RARON Won BIEBERSTEIN'S REPLY.
In bis reply TO Count Kanitz the Secretary OK
State for Foreign Affairs Baron Marscha!i Won BE
bersten said that Everything has been zone on our
side TO prevent a doubtless threatening dahge. 10
our trade" He TOOK issue with the last speaker
who had contended that the most favored nation
clause was not operative between the United states
and the German confederation. and asserted
that the treaty OF ls2s between the United
States and the Kingdom OF Prussia was still IN torce
and operative between the confederation ana inc
United States. having been repeatedly invoked ~
both countries The Secretary also sald' Inc
former sneaker has also overlooked one thing. lie
believes that all fluctuations in the figures OF our
exports TO the United States are due TO the forma
ton of the tariff by the latter. am OF the opinion
that far more weight Is to be given 10 thosc
commercial manifestations In the United States the
periodical depressions, the great Improvements lha
set in after those depresslons.
Referring to the protest of Germany against the
de rental rate OF duty on bounty-paid sugar In the
act OF 1885,, the Secretary said:
President Cleveland applied to Congress, and re-
ferrng 10 the German protest, earnestly pleaded for
the removal OF this additional duty that the
shadow OF a violation OF a treaty be removed. The
House OF Representatives complied with the re-
quest but the Senate did not. We did not follow up
our protest a: the time, because our opinion as to
the legal right In the first place acknowledged
hv o
from the RighO and furthermore. for another rea-
SON which will perhaps cause less merriment with
tho Right of the House, namely. the fear that inn
pOrtation OF German sugar might severely suffer
thereby proved erroneous on the contrary the
sales OF sugar for 1896 In consequence of the Cuban
revolution according TO statistics. reached !
height Il had before attained-65.ooo0oO MARKS
The speech closed follows:
AT this moment ! can only request that the Reich
stag place that confidence In the confederated gov
ernments that they fully aware OF the difficulty
of their task that II 1t shall be necessary adopt
decisive measures tksy will do 1t with the frmness