The record-union., 1897-12-01
Negotiations Entered Into for a New
Commercial Treaty.
Which VIII Give the Latter Country More
Favored Privileges.
Will Concede to German Trade the
Enjoyment OF ANY Concession
Granted the Colonies of Great
Britain OF to the Mother Coun-
try by the Colonies.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-Commer-
cial Agent Stern at Bamberg. in re-
port 70 the State Department, has given
great deal Of general information
concerning the recent notice Of Eng
land to terminate the commercial treaty
made with Germany. Mr.. Stern says
that negotiations have been entered
into at the instigation OF Great Brit
ain for a new treaty. The commerce
between England and Germany COM
prises nearly % per cent. OF the lat
ter's trade. Germany's exports TO
Great Britain proper IN 1896 were val
ued al S1G9,932 000, and to the British
colonies S26, 000 The great amount
of trade, he says, is due to the treaty
of most favored nations existing be
tween Germany and England and her
colonies.
The treaty about to be terminated
comedies to German trade the enjoy
ment OF any concession or privilege
granted to the colonies of Great Brit
ain or to the mother country by the
colonies. Germany does not have the
same advantages with the Dutch,
French or Spanish colonies. The rela-
tiOns of the three latter mother coun-
tries TO their colonies is much closer in
matters of trade than England has
with hers.
Referring to the fact that Canada
had recently made concessions in her
tariff to English goods, and after ex-
pressing the opinion that there is no
doubt that other English colonies will
soon follow Canada, Mr.. Stern says:
Great Britain will then be obliged to
make concessions in her turn, and alter
her customs law in such a way that
certain products of her colonies may
be imported into the mother country
under more favorable conditions than
the corresponding products of other
countries. This would be carrying into
effect the plan to amalgamate all parts
of the British Empire into one Gus
toms union.''
Mr.. Stern states that in the German
tariff a certain amount Of considera-
ton seems to have been extended, re-
sulting in a great increase of trade,
and III comparing the figures it is
shown that imports to Germany from
England and her colonies have been
considerably greater than Germany's
exports thither He instances a num-
Der of articles which England and her
colonies send to Germany, and upon
which the tariff amounts to but very
little.
influential German papers. discussing
the termination of the treaty, say that
it viii be easy for Germany to make
reprisals, and that an increase in Ger
man tariff rates would be more serious
for ENGLAND than GERMANY
Professor Carl Rothgen, a well known
national economist, in discussing the
question, says:
The most favored nation clause
should not be applied to the customs
duties, hut be confined only to a small
circle Of countries which are economi-
cally related to each other 1t is not
advisable to concede to the British En-
pire and the United States, after the
new tariffs have come into force any
trea.r rights by dealing with the i'm
ports upon a basis of the most favored
nation clause, thus creating fresh OBJ
stacles for closer commercial and po-
litical relations between the middle
European States"
The writer considers the ultimate
cons aquence to be that the struggle for
supremacy will necessarily lead Ger
many to a conflict of interests with
England. and finally struggle for the
markets which shall remain open to
Germany
In closing his article, Professor Roth
gen makes some remarks which are
significant in view Of the late German
seizure in China. He says that Ger
many must look to other markets.
China is principally to be considered.
The German merchant has gained a
good footing there, but Russia. Japan
England and France are always ready
TO snatch parts of that country away.
The twentieth century will bring the
struggle about China" he saws.