Evening star., 1899-03-13
Future Prospects.
PORTER'S WORK IN BERLIN.
Tending to More Cordial Commercial
Relations With Germany.

A dispatch from Berlin says: Although
Robert P. Porter since his arrival here has
repeatedly announced to the official world
and to the press that his mission is in no.
wise authorized by the United States gov
ernment, his stay here has attracted con-
siderable attention. and IS productive of
good results. A series of interviews has
appeared in some of the leading papers in
which Mr.. Porter has strongly pointed out
the mutual advantages Of intimate COM
mercial relations between the two coun-
tries.
The comments on his utterances have
been extensive and varied. The agrarian
press does not look favorably upon them.
The Kreuz-Zeitung takes exception to the
fact that Mr.. Porter has nowhere hinted ar
American concessions, and says:
Under such circumstances it would be
most difficult for Germany to conclude a
commercial treaty with the United States''
The sogni-official Post disputes the cor
rectness Of Mr. Porter's figures on the SUBJ
ject of German exports to the United
States, denies the justice Of his conclusions
and adds:
1T is undeniable that German imports
from the United States vastly increased
during 1888, while the exports to America
decreased 13,00o.G00 marks. compared with
1897, and 4o,0O0no0 compared w.:h 1885,
The commercial and liberal press. how
ever, halls Mr. Porter's declarations with
SATISFACTION he cologne Gazette says.
We believe the statements of Mr.. Por-
ter have done bOeh countries service SINH
lar 10 one Baron Won Bulow did the other
Gay in pointing out things favorable 10 u
friendly intercourse between Germany and
America More than this. it is pointed out
how useful to both would be q friendly
commercial policy, ard. still more, it is
seen that it Will not be half so difficult to
attain as many people believe Surely the
interests Of both countries are thus better
[fl h.. yff pfl-- ID..,.
ter reason able statements in which the
aSraria1 press indIiSes, thus putting itself
on the level "ith the SO-called yellow press
OF America The government viii not fol-
low the aSrar.aas into a tariff war, unless
the road 10 = commercial treaty is blocked
BY insurmountah!e obstacles. and the quiet.
thoughtful manner in which influential
Americans have lately been discussing mat
;erS permits 10 hope that such obstacles
viii arise
y number Of other fnhuen.ia! papers dis
cussed the matter in similar strain.
The government has taken pains to show
M. Porter that his efforts toward a bet ter
| understanding commercially betweeen the
TWO countries are duly Appreciated and
! Baron Won Rulow has asked Ambassador
White to bring Mr.. Porter TO the diplomatic
reception on Wednesday. as the foreign,
minister wishes to converse with him.
Similar invitations have been extended 10
Mr. Porter by Count Won PosodoWsky-
Wchncr, secretary of the Interior and
f bLFpH Won IhleInldllH. secretary OF the i'm
perial treasury. AT the instance of the
government. Mr. Porter this week fully cx-
planned the new tariffs OF Cuba and Porto
RICO 70 a commission Of experts.
Mr.. Porter has told the correspondent
here of the Associated Press that a serious
discrepancy exists between the figures OF
the imports and exports of Germany and
/ the United States furnished TO the United
States treasury and those apparently drawn
from German official sources and quoted In
( the aSraridn press. This explains the diff
ferent conclusions reached.
/ Part OF the week was spent by Mr Porter
at Magdeburg, studying the sugar question
/ from the German point of view. man
/ largely interested in the industry told Mr..
/ Porter that IL was hoped the United States
would waive the discriminating tariff on
| German sugar as a preliminary condition
| 10 the conclusion of a commercial treaty
| He also furnished statements apparently
/ showing that the large German manufac-
! turers could produce sugar as low as
| cents pound, which, II true, would enable
them TO compete with Cuban sugar.