Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
Effect of German Pass Opinions on
Reciprocity Neatiations.
MANY THREATS OF 4 TARIFF WAR
Switzerland Entitled to Unusual
81
Privileges
INCONSISTENCY CHARGED
INCONSISTENCY
CHARGED

Inquiry touching the negotiations between
! the United States and Germany relative to
| a reciprocity arrangement under the terms
| OF the Dingley tariff act developed the fact
| that while these have not progressed of late
| very rapidly, principally owing to the deep
| absorption of the officials charged with
| tariff questions in the Canadian negotia-
| tons, yet on the whole there has been some
| advancement, and certainly nothing has &C.
CURED that from the United States point
of view would indicate failure of the ne
gotiations Therefore it is regretted that
the temper in Germany, not only of the
unofficial newspapers, but also of the Of
fetal class, as revealed in the public dec
larations of cabinet officers, has taken
turn that promises to retard instead of as
sisting these negotiations.
Threats of a Tarih War;
OF course our officials have not failed to
note the many more or less open threats on
the part Of the Germans to institute a
tariff war against the United States. But
these have been generally ascribed to a
small and turbulent mine rity of the Ger
man people, and not to the sober-minded,
conservative and responsible business ele-
ments. Therefore, it is an unwelc ONE de-
VelopEent to learn that the officials are
giving aid and encouragement to the hostile
agrarian party in its onslaughts upon the
United States.
Should it come to a tariff war, there is
every confidence in official circles that this
would be short, sharp and decisive, and
that Germany would be the greater sufferer
being put to the necessity of paving double
duties on United States products purchas-
ed through other countries, it is true but
nevertheless of American origin and sources
of profit to American producers. On the
other hand, nearly all of the imports from
Germany to the United States are manu-
farturp1 nrO1uctS which ell
be procured elsewhere for very slight ad-
vances in price, if, indeed, it is not possible
to produce them within the limits of the
United States or its insular holdings.
The Favored Nation Clause
1t is learned that the most serious issue
between the two countries connected with
this matter of tariff duties continues to be
the very radically different constructions
placed by each upon the most favored ma
ton clause of the commercial treaties. Ger
many has always insisted on claiming every
concession that was made to any other ma
ton. The United States has insisted that
there must be an equivalent concession
granted by Germany" a~condition of ex-
tending to her the concessions accorded TO
the third party. In other words there must
be quid pro quo. and it is insisted by the
United States that it alone shall determine
when this equivalent is rendered. we re-
fuse to allow Germany to decide for us that
conditions are or are not similar. That is
the general doctrine of the United States
But there are exceptions in practice and
switzerland forms one of these About a
year ago the State department negotiated
a reciprocity arrangement with France
comforting certain advantages upon French
wines for concessions relative to American
meat products.
Very soon Germany 'so,tght to effect a
similar arrangement, But the conditions
We're not similar: ths German concession
Woulu not nave been equivalent to that
made by France; there was not held out
the same equivalent in substance though
theoretically the terms appeared to be
about equal. So that proffer from Ger
many was declined and negotiations have
been in progress since in the effort to reach
d new basis of understanding
Treaty With Switzerland Uniuue.
Meanwhile, Switzerland suddenly claimed
the benefits of an arrangement like that of
France. The State Department officials
consulted the treaties and found that they
were absolutely Obliged to yield to this de-
mand The treaty between Switzer-
land and the United States is unique. 1t
has a favored nation clause entirely DIFF
ferent from that included in any other
treaty; a preposterous clause in the opin-
ion of the State Department officials, but
nevertheless il exists and must be lived up
to unless the treaty is to be denounced. This
treaty is known as the Dudley Mann treaty
and was made in 1850. The eighth article
is like the ordinary favored nation pro-
vision, and it is in article ten that the pc
culiar iron-clad provision is found in the
following language:
In order the more effectually to attain
the object contemplated in Article VIII
each Of the contracting parties hereby en-
cages not to grant any favor in commerce
to any nation, union of nations, state or
society, which shall not Immediately be
enjoyed by the other party
So, under this clause. Switzerland was
allowed the concession made with France.
1hlS was regarded as a glazing inconsist-
ency on our part by the Germans, and is
one of the principal grounds for the at
tacks being made in Germany upon the
American construction of the favored ma
ton clause. The people cannot see the diff
ference between their condition and that
of Switzerland in their relations with the
United States. Nevertheless, there is little
expectation here that the German govern
ment will proceed to the extreme length of
denouncing the existing trade treaty with
the United States, although it Is realized
that they have become very apprehensye
or the loss of their sugar market through
the promised development of the cane plan
tations' in Cuba under American auspices
and under American favor
MADE THE TRIP AFOOT.