New-York tribune., 1899-02-12

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY BARON Won
BIEI.OW IN THE REICIISTAG.
COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONS
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE
EMPIRE GERMANY TRANQUIL.
FIRlf AND FRIENDLY.


lated the Government on the question Of the
commercial relations between the United States
and Germany The Minister Of Foreign Affairs
Baron Won Buow. intimated his readiness to
reply forthwith.
In introducing the Interpolation Count Won
Kanitz referred to the prohibitive effects Of the
Dingley BILL and contrasted the decrease Of
German exports with the increase in American
exports He said that to denouncc the treaties
containing the favored nation clause was now
scarcely necessary as the Americans no longer
fully observed their treaty. The Americans, ne
added must be made to understand that the
Germans had no need whatever to obtain their
whole list Of necessaries from them alone. If
one country closed its markets to another. good
commercial relations could not permanently
continue In this connection it was in the in
terest Of German agriculture to uphold the pur-
chasing power Of the country against American
measures a tariff war was certainly undesir-
able hut In the event Of such a struggle Ameri-
ca owing TO the greater volume Of her imports
had much more to lose than Germany.
The Count concluded with expressing the hope
that the Federal Government would act both
cautiously and energetlcauy. His remarks were
spplauded by the members Of the Right.
VON BUELOW'S DECLARATION.
Baron Won Buow replied that it was impos-
slbe. in view Of the pending negotiations. to
make an exhaustive declaration Of the position
taken m by the German and American gov
ernments In the specific question. Germany's
differences with America were mainly attribu-
table to connirting interpretations Of the ia
vored-nation treatment. assured by the Treaty
Of 1S2S. loud Conservative interruptions)
Tho Rarop then read mart Of the treaty, and
continued:
The German Government has always c0nsld-
cred these clauses II the trcltr as um3lvInY un-
limited mos.-ra voreu-nation :rcltmcnt for Ger
lnany in all tariff questions. Concessions of eny
other kind whicn the United S.ltns m.Sl; gran:
10 a third Sta-c in return fr toma grocill ccm-
pensation Germany would orly claim II she
made a corresponding return 10 the United
States on this view are based the well weighed
meaning and text Of the treaties. Germany can
not recede from this position.
AS regards the diferential treatment of Ger
man sugar. apart from the Dnsey tariff, the
German Government objected that this treat
ncnt was opposed to the INSTRUMENTATION
treatment. and that it a customs surtax
incorrectly calculated We have secured the re-
moval Of the dlnercnta charges arising from
unfair reckoning Of the surtax: but Germany
has a further demand respecting tha deducti N
~ additional excise from the so-called over
I contingent. which has been persistentiy reject
ed on the other hand. the American Govern
ment has promised to consider Germanys pro-
posal for the deduction Of the general industrial
tax 10 which German sugar is subject.
TONNAGE DUES.
"The question Of tonnage dues has arisen from
the fact that i'm view of our declaration Of 1SSS.
according to which no tonnage or lighthouse
dues corresponding TO the American tonnage and
lighthouse dues are collected at German har-
bors. America granted vessels from Germany
exemption from those dues and afterward with
drew the exemption, although in the mean time
no change whatever made in the German
| shipping dues. and the situation in every re-
spect remained as It was
There are. however indications OF an in
clination upon the part of the United States. by
amending the present legislation to remove all
causes Of complaint
Again our Interpretation Of the mOst-fav-
ordination treatment does not admit that the
United States should not grant us the same
tariff reduction as France obtained for various
goods under the reciprocity convention of 1898,
and which was recently extended to the same
products from Switzerland.
"Rcgarding the complaints Of our exporters
by reason of the high rates Of the Ding!ey tariff
and the manner in which the American tariff
regulations arc enforced. and the unsutabeness
Of Interchangeable duties and the burdensome
regulations Of the American customs procedure.
they have been the subject Of repeated and ur-
gent representations TO the American Govern
meot FOR a conciation of the conflicting views
Of our rights and a satisfactory understand
ing is pending.
There must be for both sides apprecia-
tion Of how far-reaching for each OF the two
countries are the national interests involved,
and in view of the increasing development Of
American imports 10 Germany We must assume
that the same view is held in the United states.
hone that at no distant date a solution Of the
oxisting difficulties will be attained. accepta-
bile and satisfactory to both parties.
.orbe Federal Government claims the conf
derce of the Rcchstag. that it Will know how
- follow such a course as VII. lead TO the in
,crests Of the Fa,herand intrUsted TO the Min
,st,rs b.lng permanently safcguarded in the
best and surest way
GERMAN ATTITUDE IN THE EAST
Roron Won Bulow again rose and said: In
the dispatch by Germany u a squadron to
Eastern Asia in the course OF the Hispano-
American war we were guided solely by the
legitimate obligations imposed upon US Of pro-
tecting German subjects and German trade at
Manila We were never. for a single moment
dlslovaI to honorable neutrality. (Cheers)
Il cmphatically declare that the statements
which have appeared in a portion Of the foreign
press regarding alleged German designs in the
Philippines or German support OF the Filipinos
against the Americans are the most barefaced
fals.hoods tCheers) The assertion that the
German Consul General at Hong Kong sold
arms to the Fllipinos is one OF the plumpest
canerds that ever fluttered from muddy pool
The intercourse between the Hermans ana
American naval officers at Manila was charac-
tcrlzed by a spirit or mutual courtesy. our
naval officers conducted themselves throughout
I'm manner to which no blame can be at
| tecbed or exception taken. and the conduct OF