Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-05
THE TARIFF BILL.
Foreign Ministers Watch Its
Progress With Great Interest.
While Few Regard Il With Favor, As
It viii Restrict Their Trade,
But Few Protests Have Been Made-various
Views as Expressed.

Washington. April 1.-THE foreign en-
bassies ard legations in Washington are
watching the progress of the tariff bill
with great care. as it materially affect
all commercial nations. Reports are be-
ing forwarded to the various foreign
offices, and these in turn are being made
public abroad for the information of con
Germs shipping goods to the United States
Naturally the feeling among the diplo-
it will restrict many of the lines of for
eign trade with this country.
The representatives of nations which
are most concerned with reciprocity d.
not regard the reciprocity features of thy
present bill with favor. Up to the presen.
time no protests have been filed from any
source. although it is said that certain
representations from the Argentine gov
eminent are on the way 10 the minister
here. Some of the ministers have talked
uuoffically with Secretary Sherman a.
to che general character OF the bill. but
they lave become satisfied that the TX
ecutive branch had no desire to exert in.
duence or the legislative branch TOWARD
keeping down tariff rates.
The British embassy strictly adheres t.
the rule that it has no concern with mat
tiers Of international legislation. Al
though English trade Is more affected by
the bill than that of any other country.
no representations or protests of any kind
have been made by the English govern
ment. Although Canada is a British col
ony it makes its own tariff laws. which
operate against England as well as the
United States. The talk of retaliation or
the part of the Canadian government is
confined to Dominion quarters, and such
retaliation, If resorted to. would not re-
quire the approval of the home govern
ment.
The German embassy has received no
Instructions from the home government
relative to the tariff bill, but at the samG
time the great strides made by Germany
as an industrial nation give special inter
est TO the present legislation, as it will
affect many lines of German goods com
ing to this country. 1t is considered like
~ that commercial warfare will result
which will lead to an increase of tariff
rates in Germany. AS Austria Hungary
is closely allied with Germany in COM
merce as we'll as foreign affairs. it is said
that a tariff increase by Germany would
be followed by Austria Hungary and
other central European countries.
The French officials here are waiting
action on the bill by the Senate. regard
ing the present condition of the measure
as very imperfect.
Spain 5 interest in the bill are due main
" to the trade between Cuba and the
United States on sugar, tobacco, etc.
The South American countries are most
affected by the reciprocity features. But
the ministers from these countries say
that little is expected in the way or
practical reciprocity from the present
measure. Brazil is mainly affected in its
products of coffee, rubber and hides, and
Argentina in its wool and hides.
The japanese authorities feel that some
of their ndustries-principally silks, silk
handkerchiefs. straw mating and iute
rugs-wil suffer severely by the bill.
They have made no protest, however. al
though the extent of the mutual trade
gradually being built up between the two
countries may lead to some representa-
tions being submitted, mainly for the
purpose of information.