The herald., 1898-02-04
OF America Fruits From
Germany
DRIED FRUITS ALSO INCLUDED
IN THE DECREE PROHIBITING
IMPORTATION
The Teuton's First Blow in the Tariff
Scrap May Be Unfair but Is
Effective
Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Feb. "A brief ca
blegram from AmbassadorWhite at Ber-
lin that came to the Department of State
last evening. conveyed the only inform
alton so far received as to the decree of
exclusion of American fruit from Prus-
sia. This cablegram was so meagre
that a request has been sent to Mr..
White for further details. While it is not
positively known, it is supposed that the
decree applies only to Prussia, and not
to all Germany, a considerable limita-
ton. Whether or not it also applies to
Canadian fruit is a matter of specula-
tion.
WHOLESALE EXCLUSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-During the
afternoon further advices were received
from Ambassador White as to the ma
ture of the decree. 1t would seem that
the full details are not yet obtainable
in Berlin, but it is expected that the am
bassador will cable the entire decree as
soon as he can obtain possession of it.
The important facts that were estab-
lished by the last advices were:
First-That the decree of exclusion
uses the word, American" as descrip-
tive of the place of origin of the fruit,
which would seem to include Canadian
fruit, without question.
Second-That the decree, instead of
applying only to fresh fruits, as was 1t
first supposed, includes in the probihi-
tion all dried fruits from America.
State department officials have not
yet recovered from their surprise at the
method adopted by the German govern
ment in accomplishing its object in the
matter, and undoubtedly the correspond
ence to follow will set this out very
clearly. The objection to the course
pursued is threefold. In the first place
lit is said to be entirely without the
slightest warning or precedent, and is
discourteous toward the ambassador at
Berlin to make the decree and put it into
effect without the slightest warning to
him. In the second place, by making
the decree take effect at once and stop
ping all fruit in transit, a great injus-
tice is done to shippers, who thus, with
out warning, are made to lose heavily
Third, the decree is condemned, in that
it makes no provision for the admission
of fruit of absolute purity; permits no
demonstration of origin or healthful
condition, and, in fact, condemns all
fruit, good or bad, alike. These consid-
erations are to be strongly urged upon
the German government as reasons why
it should either revoke or modify the de-
cree on lines indicated before any more
radical action is taken.
THE REASON GIVEN
The German Ambassador was a WIS.,
itor at the State Department today and
spent some time with the officials. At
ter talking with Secretary Sherman and
Assistant Secretary Day, the Ambassa-
dor was half an hour in close consulta-
ton with Mr.. Wasson, the special COM
missioner for the United States in the
negotiation of reciprocity agreements.
The Ambassador had no news from Ber-
lin direct as to the last decree which
threatens to kill all hope for the nego-
tiations of any kind of a reciprocity
treaty or agreement within the terms
of the present tariff act so far as Ger
many is concerned.
1t is gathered that the basis of the
decree, or rather the reason officially
sent out by the Prussian government foi
the exclusion, is that some shipments
of American apples, coming from Cali
fornia, have been discovered to be af-
fected with the disease known as Sar
Jose scale, but just how German apples
are endangered, even if this fact should
be established, is not made plain.
One of the standing complaints
against American dried fruit, the trade
in which with Germany has assumed
enormous proportions, is again brought
to official notice by report that comes
to the State Department from United
State Consul Ozmun, at Stuttgart, anG
is today made public in the daily consul
lar reports.
He transmits a notice issued by the
Chief of Police of Stuttgart to the effect
that most of the samples of American
appleings, or dried apples, taken from
the local retailers, show the addition OF
metallic zinc in quantities of 0.3 grammes
to the kilogram, and warning all deal
ers that they will be punished and their
goods confiscated if further sales of such
goods are made.
This complaint was made to the De-
partment of State about two years ago
the German Chief of Police in Cologne
asserting in his notice that the zinc was
put in the apples because the Americans
dry the fruit on zinc trays instead OF
wooden bars as we do"
Immediately, one of the most enter
prising of our Consuls in Germany Wis.
tied an agricultural exposition then going
on in Germany and reported that all OF
the fruit evaporators exhibited, about
fourteen in number, were fitted with the
alleged harmful zinc trays, which were
used in Germany.
THEY KNOW MORE NOW
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3.-Amopc
the fruit exporters in San Francisco the
news of the action of the German gov
ernment prohibiting the importation o