The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-03

BERLIN. Feb. 1.-THE Prussian Min
lister of Finance, DR.. Miguel, issued a
decree yesterday, which goes into eff
feet Immediately, prohibiting the i'm
por;ation of every kind of American
fresh fruit. The decision has been sent
to all the German ports, excepting Ava
ria. Saxony and Wurtemburg.
The United States Embassy was not
previously warned, and the United
States ambassador, Mr.. White, sent d
formal letter TO the Foreign Office to-
day inquiring upon what authority this
inimical step was taken.
The United States Consul at Ham
burg. DR.. Hugh Pitchiarn, telegraphs
that 10000 barrles of American apples
have been forbidden to be unloaded
and that two trains full of American
fruit have also been forbidden to cross
the frontier at Emerch, which, aside
from Hamburg, is the principal place Of
entry for American fruit.
On receipt of this news Mr.. White
sent a second and stronger remon-
STRANGE to the Foreign Office, calling
attention TO the evident violation of the
treaty.
At the Foreign Office it was learned
that the Prussian Government prohibits
the entry of American fruit on sani-
tary grounds, claiming that California
and other vermin threaten German
trees and fruit
REAL CAUSE OF THE DECREE.
LONDON, Feb. 3.-The Berlin cor
respondents of the morning papers are
all skeptical as to the alleged reason
for the exclusion of American fresh
ftt7i tho iS
the discovery of bug in a box of APP
pies in South Germany. The exclusion
is attributed rather to the Agrarian de-
mand for reprisals against the Ameri-
can tariff. The decision has caused the
greatest surprise and considerable dis
satisfaction, for American apples had
rapidly taken the German markets by
storm, owing to their cheapness and
fine quality, and the poor consumers
cannot afford to buy fine French or
Italian fruit. Furthermore it will be
a severe blow &c commerce and ship
ping The decree only permits impor-
tation on condition that the fruit is ex
ported to England
MAY RETALIATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2-The State
Department has not yet been informed
by ambassador White of the decree
against the Importation of American
fresh fruits into Germany. and the
official statement of the matter is
awaited with anxiety at the depart
ment. which desires to know just how
far the German Government is willing
to yield to the wishes of the Agrarian
party, which insists upon>the exclusion
of all American farm products which
enter into competition with the German
farmer
For two years the State Department
has been engaged almost fruitlessly TO
secure from the German Government
the reversal of decree like the present
one. but applied TO our meat products.
The attitude of the Germans in this
matter is not encouraging. and the an
nouncement of this additional decree
against another great American staple
export has tried the patience of the
department sorely and there is no tell
ing how far We may go toward retail
iation If the conditions justify it.
OF course nothing viii be done in the
absence of full official information from
Mr. White as TO the facts in the case,
and it may be that the history of the
meat exclusion negotiations will be
repealed. in that there may be a long
correspondence TO permit the German
Government to demonstrate, If ii can,
the great dangers TO be looked for in
American fresh fruits. But If the facts
indicate that there is as little founda-
ton for this exclusion decree as was
the case with the meat products. il is
said at the state Department that the
President probably will avail himself of
his statutory power to retalate such
reply under Section ), of the Act of
August 80. 1890
To the knowledge of the State De-