New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-08
A WAITING POLICY ADOPTED.
WATCHING THE EFFECT OF GERMANY's EXCLU
SION DECREE-COMPLAINT AGAINST
GERMAN WINES

Washington, Feb. 7.-Ambassado. White. at Ber-
lin. by cable to the State Department. has con-
frmed the press reports OF the modification OF the
decree OF the German Government relative TO the
importation into Germany OF American fresh fruits.
1t is said that there is now nothing to do on the
part Of this Government bu, TO watch the workings
of the decree means OF testing the spirit In
which ii was conceived. whether 1t framed with
the single purpose OF keeping diseased fruit or
whether 1t was not mere pretext to prevent the
competition of American fruit with that OF Ger
production. That the Department has reason
to suspect the latter is evidenced from the report
that comes TO it from United States Consul Barnes
at Cologne in which the Consul points out gross
discrimination by the local officials against Amer-
hams. The Consul in his report incloses the
following translation OF decree printed In the
local new spapers OF Cologne
The chief Mayor publishes the following notice:
American hams have been brought into tho mar
ket which painted with boracic acid in order
ashcd before being oefe9 for sale the meat was
strongly impregnated with boracic acid. and crys-
shown by the results of the chemical examination
Now the Court OF Correction has declared. on the
is a poison liable to injure the health Of human
beings. II Is, therefore, not permitted to Keep on
acid. and all those who act against this order will
be proceeded against according TO the Imperial Law
Of Nay H. @ po Sges s ee b @ba IN 1904
lowing ingredients in the preparation: Thirty per
OF boracc acid so cent of nitrate OF potash
and 80 per cent OF common salt. In view Of the
composition OF this preparation II appears that
the Court Of Correction permits the use OF a lin
tied quantity OF boracic acid by the people OF Ger
many in the curing Of their meats. while 1t con
dennis and forbids the use OF the same article
In the meats coming from America. In other
words, boracic acid in American meats Is poison.
while in German products II Is palatable and
healthful. II seems wellnlgb impossible to over
come the deepseated prejudice of the German peo-
pie against American meat products and only
the greatest in preparation and the most care
full selection will insure success. and. IL is to be
hoped finally secure the proper recognition OF the
superior quality and healthfui properties of the
pork products OF America.
In connection with the subject OF exclusion OF
American products from Germany, IT may be
stated fact of interest that the United States
has had for some time past complaint against
Germany which II has treated in A spirit OF cour
tesy and patience. This complaint touches the purity
of German wines which are imported into the United
States in quantities so great to make the volume
OF fresh fruit trade with Germany Insignificant
by comparison. The State Department. having had
It's attention directed TO the statements of eminent
experts in Germany relative TO the great adutera-
ton of these wines. laid the matter before the
German Government and courteously afforded II
an opportunity to defend the character OF the
wines. only brief and atstactory answer
has been received so far and although that was
two years ago this Government has not yet taken
radical action, although. automatically speaking
the question is still open.