The herald., 1897-08-02
Triumps on an Imperial
Scale
DENUNcIATIoN OF TREATIES
CAUSES ANXIETY TO TRADERS
OF EUROPE
Just What Great Britain Intends to
Do Is Not at All Easy
to Discover

| LONDON, Aug. 2.1The denunclatior
by Great Britain of the commercial
treaties with Belgium and Germany is
the theme of discussion in the European
newspapers. The Chronicle says: 1T
is the triumph of free trade on a great
and imperial scale. 1t is curious coin
cidence of fate that It should be the
work of a ministry permeated by the fall
lacies of protection"
Discussing the effect of Great Brit
aims action upon the United States and
Germany, the Chronicle expresses the
opinion that the former will certainly not
be the gamer. while Canada cannot lose
by the new condition of affairs.
Other papers express similar opinions.
All are agreed that great step has been
taken which will bring England nothing
but gain. 1t has been long time since
an important act of the government has
met with such universal approval in
Great Britain.
The chief Belgian organs receive the
announcement without protest. Bel
GUM annually exports to England S,00o,-
900 pounds sterling more than she i'm
government will place any Instructions
in the way of the proposed new treaty.
The French press displays undisguised
satisfaction at the prospect of tariff
war between England and Germany, a
conflict from which it cannot but derive
advantage.
A Meline paper, the Republique Fran
caise, regards Great Britain's act as q
corroboration of the principles of pro-
lection, and predicts a general rise of
European tariffs against British and
colonial products.
The German papers, on the contrary
maintain comparative calm, with the
exception of a few of the extremist or
der. Greater anxiety is felt as to the
possible motion of the British colonies
in favoring protection policy with ref
erence to sugar, in which Germany is
strongly interested.
The Liberal papers accuse the Agrari
ans Of being largely responsible for
this blow at Germany's trade" and
argue that Canada, finding her products
excluded from other countries, desires
to retaliate, while England, fearing the
result of the rising tide of Agrarianism
in Germany, decided to be prepared in
time for all eventualities.
FOREIGN COMMERCE
BERLIN, Aug. 1.-The Kreus Zei-
tung says that the remuneration of the
commercial treaty with the German
Zollverein is Great Britain's first step
toward the protectionist system, and
adds: But there is no ground for Sc
rious alarm because she has her carry
ing trade to protect and retaliation to
fear. Moreover, a one-sided prefer
ence shown to Canada might provoke
conflict with the United States"
The National zeitung says that Great
Britain is herself the ma ation most inter-
ested in the conclusion of new treaty
and that Germany may gain much by
skillful, cold-blooded diplomacy.
The Vossiche Zeitung says: $50 far
as Germany's relations to England are
concerned, it is matter of Indifference
whether we have treaty or not"
The Berliner Tageblatt says: "Great
Britain's intention to join the mother
country and the colonies in customs
union will not induce her to restrict
British trade with Germany any further
than is necessary to attain this object"
The three last named papers all agree
that it is quite out of the question for
England to adopt protection.
A NEW TREATY
BRUSSELS, Aug. 1.-The Moniteur
officially announces the fact that Great
Britain has renounced the commercial
treaty with Belgium, but adds that the
British government has intimated its
readiness to negotiate new treaty.