The record-union., 1898-12-25
One of the Leading Subjects of Discussion
at Berlin.
Asserted by High Official That Re-
ports Published on the Question
of Commerce Are Inexact-Says
the German Government Has No
Intention of Legislating Speci-
fcally Against American Agri-
cultural Products.

copyrighted, 1898, by Associated PreSS.J ]
BERLIN, Dec 24.-One of the leading
subjects discussed throughout the week
by the newspapers was the present and
future relations between Germany and
the United States, more particularly to
the commercial side of the question.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press here has interviewed high Ger
man official who has exceptional sources
of information. He said: "The reports
current in the press of both countries
on this subject are lamentably inexact
In Washington they claimed to have
jumped at the conclusion that Germany
is on the point of legislating specific
ally against American agricultural
products, and they are taking the bull
by the horns in order to forestall us.
The fact is, there is no such intention
here, at least not in Government circles.
The meat inspection bill is only on the
point Of reaching the Bundesrath, which
is the first legislative stage. Then it
goes to the Reichstag. So it probably
will not pass, if at all, until the end of
the session next spring. Even then the
bill may not be framed to hit the Amer
leans particularly. On the contrary,
Mr. White, the United States Embassa-
dor at Berlin, has received conditional
assurances that the integral feature Of
the bill will be the abolition of the re-
peated local inspections of American
meats, of which the Americans have
complained. The bill provides for a
strict inspection, but it will be perfectly
fair, and will be applied as equally to
the domestic trade as to imported
meats
The officials of the United States EN-
bassy generally express the opinion
that the German Government sincerely
desires to improve it's relations with
the United States, and sees indications
pointing to successful issue of these
efforts, though the bills simultaneously
introduced in the House of Representa-
tives and in the Senate at Washington,
foreshadowing retaliation, have been re-
ceived with a great show of Indignation
by the Government and Government
press, while the Liberal, especially the
commercial papers, have unanimously
expressed fears that the legislative ac-
ton on both sides will culminate in a
regular tariff war;
The Agrarians are jubilant at the
prospect of a tariff war, which has been
their dearest aim for years. A number
of insulting articles have been published
in their newspapers, deriding the United
States in every possible way. The
"Kreuz Zeitung," even, throws mud at
the American people on account of the
recent war and its results, calling rhe
American troops utterly inefficient, and
oyri7 ha ic
the core. These utterances, however
are exceptions. The majority of the
press is discussing the question calmry
and fairly.
The emigration bill introduced in the
Reichstag by Professor Hause and
Count Won Arnim affects the interests
of the United States. 1t advances the
position of "once German, always Ger
man." and refuses to any German the
right to become naturalized citizen
of any other country The United
States Embassy officials, however, say
that if the bill is adopted it cannot over
ride the German American treaty Of
1868, exempting German-Americaus
from such legislation.
The German Cabinet at recent meet
ings has discussed the question of ia
cilitating imports of Russian petroleum.
and it is said from reliable source that
it has been decided to increase the test
points, and thus exclude inferior grades
of American petroleum, provided the
Russian Government grants an euuiya-
lent.
The result of the trial of Frank
Knaak of New York, who was recently
acquitted of the charge of referring to
Emperor William as a ''blockhead." on
the ground that he was in no position to
realize his offense, came as a great sur
prise, even to the counsel for the de-
fense, as the testimony was precisely
similar to that of the majority of such
cases, which have ended in conviction.
The presiding Judge, Herr Dense. con-
victed r. E. Kneebs, the American
horseman charged with ringing" the
mare Bethel on the German turf. and
sentenced him to nine months impris-
onment and to pay a fine of 1000
marks Judge Dense is considered to be
very severe and learned, and there is
the best authority for saying that the
acquittal and unusual leriency shown
Mr.. Knaak was due to hint from EN-
peror William that his acquittal. if le-
gally possible, would be appreciated by
both his majesty and the German Gov
ernment, in view of the present deli
cate relations between the United States
and Germany.