The San Francisco call., 1898-02-04
OUR COMMERCIAL INTEREST
 GERMANY.

THE news from Germany is disagreeabe. Cali
 fornia had just opened the way in that empire
 for American fruit Our exhibit at the food show in Hamburg was followed by steady and in creasng demand for American fruit German deal represented here by buyers who were fairly sknning the market Of its stock. In the midst of this activity appears arbitrary prohibition of inn ports which cuts off apples, pears and all fresh fruits entirely, and may readily exclude also all dried fruit. the form in which trade promised the best results.
 We have a commercial treaty with Germany whereby guaranteed the same advantage in her markets which is accorded to the most favored nation. Under this treaty each nation may establish such regulations by tariff, it chooses. It may put its tariff rate any given article class of articles at prohbitory point if 1t chooses. But neither nation may exclude the products of the other by subterfuge and indrection This is done by Ger many when she excludes meats and fruits on pretended sanitary grounds. To answer the de- mands of her agrarians Germany excluded our pork under pretense that it was commonly affected by trichina. Against this exclusion could show the almost entire immunity of our porl-eating people from the disease caused by that parasite, but this made no impression upon the German Government.
 It desired get around its treaty and avoid punish ment for violating the favored nation clause and so it stubborny insisted upon this exclusion for sanitary reasons. Even after our Government had established rigid scientific inspection of all meats for export Germany houted the efficiency of the inspection and in a high handed way impeached the good faith not only of the exporter but of the Government itself. At the same time that this was going on England taking largely of our pork products, packed in the way and by the same houses, and her peo- pie consumed them to their advantage and without any evil results. In the way England is to-day taking our fresh dried and timed fruits and with a scientific inspection of all her food products that is not excelled by that of Germany finds no reason for refusing them sanitary grounds.
 It is noteworthy that Germany does not put up these bars to the trade of any other nation If she did it by her tariff it equally against all the countries with which she has commercial relations. This she does not wish to do She desires to take and hold an attitude of hostility toward the United States, to single out people for her resentment, without njuring her standing with any other
 It is time to end the game of false pretenses under which this policy has been pursued by that nation. The American people were badly impressed recently by the information that the American Minister to Berlin was treated with such conspicuous dsrespect that it had become the subject of diplomatic pro- test. Our Minister compelled to the statement that he could endure the snubs and sights put upon him as an individual but did not propose to treat them patiently when they were offered in his official character.
 There has been nothing in the attitude of the United States toward Germany to provoke insults our Minister or discrimination against our trade and 1t is time that both that diplomatic and mercial intercourse until that Government inn proves its sense of respect for its treaty obligations and for other members of the family of nations
 The most impartial and unimpassoned representa- tions should be made to Germany, with no hint of anything beyond amicable protest, and if patient ef
 fort that line fail to improve the situation, it will be proper make it plain that this is China and the policy which forced the Tsung Ii Yamen to dis graceful submission is not of general application.