New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-11
GERNANY'S FRUIT DECREE.
THE CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO THE
SENATE BY SECRETARY SHERMAN

Washington Feb 10-The Secretary OF State. In
answer to a Senate resolution. to-day submitted
the correspondence with the German Government
relative to the exclusion OF American fruit. The
correspondence begins with a cable dispatch from
Ambassador white. on February l. announcing
that the exclusion decree had been put into effect
on the preceding day. Several cable dispatches
passed 10 define tho scope Of the decree. and on
February Acting Secretary Day cabled to Mr.
White to protest against the decree to urge the
special injustice OF its application TO the large
amount OF fruit In transit. and to note that dam
ages to a large amount were impending. lie was
to inform the German Government that 1t was
liable for indemnity to shippers without hotice
and for breach OF contracts for delivery. II not
wholly revoked the decree. ne said should at least
be suspended 20 avoid the destruction OF fruit
shipped without notice Of the prohibition
Mr. White replied on February that he had
anticipated the instructions and had made earnest
represeniatio at the Foreign Office. the orig
nal order had been mitIgated dried fruit had been
released. fresh fruit In stock was allowed 10 DE
sold again and he hoped for the speedy release OF
fresh fruit The customs authorities had acted
with too much zeal. The Foreign once lhsisteu
on the good faith Of the regulations. ana desireo
only to keep out insect pests not to prevent cofn-
petition They cited Agricultural Department
bulletins and laws OF oregon and British 90
umbia against the same pest.
The day following. DR.. Won Holleben' the Ter
man Minister here submitted a memorandum 10
the State Department with the request that the IN
formation therein contained be furnished 10 mc"-
bers Of Congress 1t says that no measures nave
been adopted that were not necessary Tor the pro-
lection of important German interests anu tIc
imperial Government has been FAR from enter tdIl-
ing a thought of going beyond this definitely drawn
line The memorandum describes the discoyery
bv a high school professor at Berlin fcw Gays
before of the San jose shield louise In shPfnenit
of American fruit. The fruit was stopped anu
the customs authorities. reminded OF the p0sSlntu-
ity OF the introduction of the insect. MT w nIle,
who did not seem to be Informed with regard 10
the destruction caused by the shield louse III
America :" was told that tho reports OF the decree
i'm the newspapers were partly incorrect ana
promature 90 that the statement was uhiouhueu
that the German Government had adopted mas
ure affecting the United States without lnlornins
tho American Ambassador. The TACT was th,t
the Federal Council about TO issue an oruI-
nance excluding fresh plants and their packages
and reouring the examination OF fresh frult. NO
assertion could be made by the United states that
Tho measure was not justified because OF the great
devastation caused by the shield louise IN America
Secretary Sherman concludes the reVle" OF tne
Department's action by saying; FROM the io III
going report II Will be seen that the action 81 ts
C,overnmcnt and OF its diplomatic representative
nj Berlin for the protection OF all legltildt - Coi
mercial and exporting interests njuriousy 3Hesteu
nv tho German prohibition was prompt anu ehe.
tive and that as the matter now stands inc iu-
mis- sion of American fresh fruit into bermahy haS5
hoe secured in all cases save Where luc hc'.h'
existence of the San Jose scale insect upon ,.io
fruit or in the packlngs thereof is ascertaiheo'