Gulf Coast breeze., 1898-02-11
GERMANY BARS OUR FRUITS
UNDER THE PRETExT OF SAM.
TARY PRECAUTIONS.
IT IS EVIDENTLY RETALIATION.
Representatives at Washington Express
Themselves Regarding the Matter.
May Result In Commercial War.

cable dispatch from Berlin says'
The Prussian minister OF finance, DIR.
Miguel, has issued decree which
goes into effect Immediately, prohibit
ing the importation Of every kind OF
American fresh fruit. The decree has
been sent to all the German ports and
frontier stations, excepting Bavaria,
Saxony and Wurtemburg. The United
States embassy was not previously
warned and the United States embas-
sador, Mr.. Andrew d. White, sent
formal letter to the foreign office in
quiring upon what authority this in
imical step was taken.
The United States consul at Ham,
burg, DR.. Hugh Pitcairn, telegraphs
that 16, 900 barrels of American apples
have been forbidden to be unloaded
and that two trains OF American fruit
have also been forbidden to cross the
frontier at Emmerich, which, aside
from Hamburg, is the principal place
Of entry.
IL IL Retaliation
A Washington special says: Senator
Perkins, Of California, when shown the
above dispatch, said that the preven-
tion Of importation on sanitary
grounds was mere preteYt and that
it was simply to keep out fruits which
competed with German production
and the order was no doubt issued as
a retaliation against the United States
because of differential tariff ON sugar
from bounty paying countries. Sena-
tor Perkins said he had no doubt that
the United States could meet this new
order by retaliation and il Germany
did not want to be market for our
fruits and meats, measures could be
taken which would also limit the mar
kets in the United States to German
products.
Senator McEnery, of Louisiana, was
much interested "If this country"
said he, "would only prohibit the i'm
portation of Germany's cutlery and
woolens there would soon be an end
Of any discrimination against American
products, and according to my way of
thinking, that is what should be done"
Mr.. Hit, chairman Of the committee
on foreign affairs, expressed surprise
at the step taken. Without discuss
ing the motives Of the movement, Mr..
Hit said it was evident Germany
based her course on sanitary grounds,
which would exclude the idea that the
move was of q political and prospect
i've character. Mr.. Hit expressed
hope that this was not step in Ger
many's retaliatory policy, which had
been referred to in recent utterances
by distinguished German officials.
Other members of the house foreign
committee expressed the views that
this was q part of Germany's retail
atory attitude toward the United
States.
Representative Walden Smith, of
Michigan, member Of the committee,
said:
"The attempted exclusion of Amer
ican fruit from the German markets at
Emmerich is not the first act of hos
tility displayed by Germany. Under
the Cleveland administration, when
our markets were open to German ex-
ports, they dealt very unfairly with
this country, excluding our beef from
the markets of Germany on the false
pretext that it was unwhoesome.
Senator Mills, member Of the for
eign relations committee, EXPIRE sed
the opinion that Germany's action was
the logical sequence OF our high tariff
system.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, also
thought the prohibition one of the re-
suits of our tariff system. "They
have the power" he said, "and I see
nothing we can do to prevent their ex-
ercising it."
Senator Elkins said: eve may Just
as well have it out with Germany now
as any other time. There is no deny
ing that we are in commercial war
and We should fight it out on the lines
they have laid down. I should go
back at them on their own terms. I
should prohibit the importation Of
their sugar."