The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-04
THE FRUIT EMBARGO,
ADvICEs FROM WHITE CONTAIN
LITTLE INFORMATION.
objections Raised to the Precipi-
tnte and Dfscourteous Action.

| Washington, FEBRUARY "a brlef cable
| from Ambassador White at Berlin that
came to the department of state last
evening conveyed the only official infor-
nation so far received as to the decree OF
| exclusion OF American fruit from Prus-
| STA. This cablegram was SO meager that
a request has been sent to Mr. White for
| further details While it is not positively
known, it is supposed that the decree APP
plies only to Prussia and not 10 all Ger
| many. Whether or not it also applies to
Canadian fruit is matter OF speculation.
| and in view of the large trade IN Canadian
apples this VIII be important for The Do
| mInion authorities to consider.
The German ambassador was Il visitor at
the state department early this morning
and spent some time with the officials.
After talking with Secretary Sherman and
Assistant Secretary Day the ambassador
was for half an hour in close consultation
with Mr.. kasson, the special commissioner
for the United States in the negotiations
for reciprocity agreements. The amDas-
sador had no news from Berlin directly as
to the last decree, which threatens to kill
all hope of the negotiations OF any kind of
reciprocity treaty or agreement within
the terms of the present tariff act SO far
as Germany is concerned.
During the afternoon further advices
were received from Ambassador White as
to the nature of ssie decree. 1t would seem
that the full details are not yet obtain
able in Berlin. but It Is expected that the
ambassador Will capie the entire decree as
soon as he can obtain possession of it. The
important facts that were established by
the last advices were:
First. that the decree of exclusion uses
the word american" as descriptive OF the
place of origin of the fruit, which would
seem to include Canadian fruit without
question; second, thnt the decree, instead
OF applying only to fresh fruit as was at
first supposed, included in the prohibition
all dried fruits from America
State department officials have not vet
recovered from their surprise at the meth
cd adopted by the German government of
| accomplishing It's object in this matter
and undoubtedly the correspondence to-
morrow Will set this cut very clearly
The objection TO the course pursued is
three. fold.
In tie first place. 1t Is said to be entirely
without precedent and discourteous to-
wards the American ambassador at Berlin
to make the decree and put 1t into effect
without the slightest warning to him
Tn the second place, by making the decree
take effect at once and stopping all fruit
in transit, n great injustice Is done TO
shippers who thus without warning are
made to lose heavily on their capital in
vested in the fruit
Third the decree is condemned in that
it makes no provision for the admission
of fruit Of absolute purity: 1t makes no
provision as to origin or healthful condi-
tion and in fact condemns all fruit. good
and bad alike.
These considerations are to be strongly
urged upon the German government as
reasons why 1t should either revoke or
modify the decree on the lines indicated
before any more radical action Is taken