The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-05
THE FRUIT PROHIBl TON
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH
IT CAME ABOUT.
AGRARIAN ATTACK ON AMERICA
Comments Of the German Press Some Of Them
Tending In Our Favor Minister Whites
Prompt Remonstrance Brought Timely
Relief Situation Still Bad

Berlin. Feb 4,-Baron Won Hammer
Stein-Iox,en, the Minister of Agricul-
tur>e. at to-,iay's session of the Irussian
Diet. declared that American horses de-
veloscd influenza after importation. He
added:
SIT the appropriations increase we shall
certainly be forced to adopt a suitable
quarantine in order 10 project ourselves.
The Reichsanze:ger this afternoon
publishes the following;
THE American Agricultural Depart
ment's report ON the San Jose shield
louise lesl to an official inquiry here as to
tho circumstances under which Ameri-
can fruit Is imported. Prof. Prank. on
january both. found on California pears
arriving at Hamburg, numerous living,
breeding shield lice absolutely Identical
with the true San Jose shield louise. tie
consequently expressed the opinion that
the home fruit cultivation was exposed
to grave material danger Thereby. A
conference of the other specialists and
TIE reports OF the Imperial Officer of
Htnlth confirmed this view in every
particular. Thus. the necessity for
prompt measures for protection was full
ly demonstrated"
The Reichsanzeiger then describes the
s.extraorslinary harmfulness" of the San
Jose louise, according 10 publication or
the Washington Agricultural Depart
ment and the measures taken in Ann
erica, notably in Oregon and British
Columbia, and continues:
1T is thus the unavoidable duty of the
To the, home fruit industry from the
danger of disease here
Under the heading Order ounter-Or-
der-Disorler' the Tageblatt today de-
scribes the bungling of Prussia with
American fruits. and asks ARE we really
drifting into a fierce tariff war with the
United States because we have petted
the Agrarian desireg
The Vorwaerts publishes an article
headed .Agrarian Attack on America,
detailing the stupidity which the differ
ent revenue stations display in interpre-
ting the prohibitory decree and other
Liberal newspapers make similar COM
ment.
The issuance of the decree was
brought about as follows: The Minister
OF Agriculture. Baron Won Hammer
stefn-Loxten, saw DIR. Miguel, the Min
lister of Finance and Vice President of
the Ministry. on january 30 and plead
ing earnestly. he asked that decree be
issued forthwith prohibiting absolutely
the importation of all American fruit.
fresh and dried and all products of
American nurseries. DIR. MIGUEL tele-
graphed the order TO all revenue sta
lions, making it effective on February
i. The United States Ambassador, Mr..
Andrew ID. White, Immediately and Wig
orously demonstrated at the Foreign
Office both in writing and verbally, and
the decree was temporarily annulled on
February 2 During the annullment the
fruit was released at Hamburg, Emmer-
rich and Dusseldorf. The decree was
re-established ON February 3 in a milder
FORM being made enforcible against
fresh fruit only. In the meanwhile, Mr..
W,are continued making strong pro-
tests to Baron Won Buelow, the Minis
ter for Foreign Affairs, who, in conse-
quence. had a special audience with the
Emperor yesterday morning, resulting
in the Bundesrath yesterday afternoon
holding a meeting and issuing yester-
days resolution. the text of which has
not yet reached Mr.. White. But, it is
known that the wording is so loose az
to be open to a score of interpretations.
1t is generally surmised that it will prac-
tically mean prohibition.
Mr.. White last evening lodged another
formal protest with Baron Won Buelow,
as in spite of the Bundesrath's resolu-
tion, American fresh fruit is everywhere
excluded.
The United States Consul at Dussel-
dorf telegraphed today that only dried
fruits had been released, and that
there we're about 1000 barrels of apples
in the bonded warehouses there.
The United States Embassy during
the week has been flooded with appeals
from fruit merchants, dealers and ship
pers, who have been injured by the de-
cree, and several of them have thanked
Mr.. White for the vigorous measures
he has adopted.
1t appears that Dr. MIGUEL and Baron
Won Hammerstein-Loxte issued the de-
cree without the authority of the Prus-
sian Cabinet or of the Bundesrath.
The official statement Of the Reich
anzeiger ON the subject of the measures
taken to prevent the importation of 'af-
fected American fruit, etc, was COM
nnlnicated tonight to the officials of the
United States Embassy.
The Agrarian newspapers thank the
government for the prohibition
The Tageblatt asks why the importa-
ton Of healthy, living plants is prohibit
ed. and says:
such extreme measures will doubtless
provoke retaliation.
INFLUENZA rs POOH1POOHED
Washington, Feb. 4.-The officials d
the Agricultural Department emphati
cally discredit the probability of Ameri
can horses carrying the influenza int
Germany and say that if they do develop
it after importation it is contracted
from animals in that country. This
statements of the German Minister @
Agriculture. Secretary Wilson says, ar,
unwarranted.
The growth in the shipment of horse
to Europe in the past four years ha
been enormous. These shipments il
1897 aggregated in value S4,769, 265 a
against $71S607 in 1893. The value O