The record-union., 1899-05-14
Negotiations for a Commercial
Treaty Between the Countries
Have Been Taken Up In Earnest at the
Other End of the Line.
ambassador White Confident That
Despite Formidable Obstacles
That Must Be Overcome Success
Will Crown the Efforts of the
Representatives of the Two
Countries.

Countries.
! Copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press
BERLIN, May 13.-Negotiations for a
commercial treaty between the United
States and Germany have now been
taken UP in earnest at this end of the
line. The United States ambassador
Mr.. White, expects that despite for
midable obstacles that must be over
come satisfactorily to both nations. sue
cess will crown the efforts CT the repre-
sentatives of the two Governments
! There is every reason for saying that
the German Government. and notably
the Foreign Minister, Baron Won Bue-
low, viii do its best to overcome the
difficulties of the task of formulating
such treaty.
The Foreign Office is having the TO-
tent aid. of Emperor William. as well
as the systematic cooperation of repre-
sentatives of all the German States in
the Bundesrath, and is determined not
to permit the obstinate aversion of the
powerful agrarian interests to stand in
the way of such an important bond
with America The Emperor made
treaty most favorably il the course of
recent expressions to Baron Won Bue-
low.
Inc main difficulty that Mr. White
| has encountered thus far in the pre-
urinary conferences at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs is the erroneous idea
that has taken hold of German minds.
and been systematically fostereGA by the
agrarlan newspaper. that trade with the
united states has latterly been distinct
~ Improbable. The papers referred to,
even with statistics inspired by the
Government, have made n strongly
plausible case to show that the balance
of trade has steadily inclined to the side
OF the United States. The Minister of
the Interior, Count Web
ner, MADE statement to The same eff
feet in the Reichstag few weeks ago.
MI White this week produced strong
counter evidence, taking facts and fig
ures from material supplied by the
Treasury Department at Washington.
The "Deutscne fags Zeitung" and the
Agrar Correspondent leading agrar-
ian sheets, call attention to the increase
in the importation of meat. mostly in
1898, amounting to $4,000. 900 marks.
adding that these imports have quad
rupled since 1897, and, if unchecked.
VIII continue to increase in the same
ratio. Hence, these journals demand
legislation forbidding outright the i'm
portation of all American and other
meats.
Inc agrarian papers combat the ar
gument that increase in the Importation
demonstrates the insufficiency of the
supply Of German meat, and claim that
the increase is solely due to the low
price of imported meat. They argue
that the continued unrestricted impor,
alton of foreign meat will entirely ruin
the German production. and demand
mat the Reichstag prohibit dealing in
foreign meat entirely, threatening that
II this is not done the AGRICULTURAL
classes will hold their representatives in
the Reichstag responsible.
ambassador White had several con-
ferences this week with Foreign Minis
ter Won Buelow regarding the meat in
spectlon DILL Both of these officials
hope that the Reichstag will pass
measure that will be acceptable TO both
countries.
Inc vigorous agitation in favor of a n
increase in the extra appropriation for
the navy, sanctioned by the Reichstag
continues. The "Flottern Warm >, a M
val society, with a membership of 40.
600 urges that the nation hasten the
building of new vessels. and demands
an increase so that Germany will be not
outmaneuvered by more active nations
at all points of the world where a Wig
orous display of naval power may be
necessary.
The inspired "Neuste Nachrichten"
advoca ties the doubling of the naval re-
sources. The Post" and the Cologne
Gazette follow in the same tenor F,n,-
peror William favors large increase
and what has been done to influence
public opinion has been with his full
approval, but the Emperor considers
himself bound by assurances on his be-
half that he VIII not go beyond the re-
Gently approved naval plan, relying
upon the force of recent events to i'm
press the nation and the Reichstag that
another naval increase is incumbent
upon Germany, and hoping that the
Reichstag will take the initiative. The
leaders of the Reichstag however, deem
it improbable that a further bill will
be introduced at this session., as the
Reichstag will be fully occupied until
late in the summer
Respecting Samoa and the Philippines
the press Of Germany has barely COM
mented this week and the excitement
over the alleged German damage claims
has died out completely. owing probab-
~ to official utterances, the press stat
ing that the claims. of which nothing
is yet officially known, will be adjusted
in the regular way and in due course
of