The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-29
REPORTS FROM CONSULS
MIR. HUGHES on GERMAN IMPORTA-
TION OF SHOE LEATHER.
Machine Trade of the Leading Coun-
tries-Agent Harris on Devel-
Opment of Colonies.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-In the proposed
new German customs tariff the distinction
between coarse and fine shoes. as drawn. at
present. viii not be applied. according 20
Consul General Hughes. at Coburg. Ger
many. in a report TO the State Department
dated Dee T. Mr. Hughes says that expert
ence has taught the German officials that
the arrangement does not guarantee a sure
classification OF goods, and that fine shoes
occasionally would be entered as the low
and cheap ones at the high rates Of duty.
The consul general says that the importa-
ton Of leather shoes into Germany in
creases year by year, and if foreign cOmpeti-
tiOn does not yet mean danger for the home
trade. the Germans think that, in the alb
sence of sufficient protection. it is by no
means impossible that their market may
be flooded with foreign shoes In fact, he
says they note that a start in that direction
already has been made, especially from the
United States. Beside the growth of for
eign competition, EIr. Hughes continues,
the intended increase Of import duty on
most kinds of foreign top leather for shoes
calls for the advance Of rates on shoes, &C
cording to German ideas.
The State Department has received from
United States Consul Monaghan, at Chem
nitz, Germany, under date of Nov l., a re-
port giving some interesting figures taken
from the last quarterly number Of the sta
tistics OF the German empire in regard to
the machine trade of the leading cOun-
tries. According To the table, England, the
United States and Germany are the most
important exporting countries. In France
and Austria-Hungary there is an unusual
demand Tor machinery, a fact Of which,
said the consul, our manufacturers should
not lose sight
The state Department has received from
United States Consular Agent Harris, a
Efbenstock. an interesting report on the
subject OF German colonial enterprises,
dated Nov. y. Mr.. Harris quotes from
speech delivered by Or. NOsberg-RekOw,
director Of the German bureau for the
preparation Of commercial treaties, before
the merchants of Leipzig, as follows: 1T
IS evident that we can never give up our
present policy relative TO foreign affairs,
or the strenuous efforts being made TO be-
. come a great sea power. We must en-
gage in colonial politics on "a large scale.
We must strive 10 expand our spheres of
interest and instill in people the con-
seriousness Of the necessity OF an aggressive
policy. 1t IS only by the annexation OF
territory beyond the states, the develop
ment of our colonies the organization and
direction of emigration to the same that
we may ever hope to be in a position TO
supply those natural products which we
are not able 10 produce within the borders
of the home country"
ritOry comprised in all of the German
colonies abroad amounts 10 2,55I, 900 square
miles. with a white population of 6.OOS (Only
a little more than half being Germany, not
a single one of these colonies is self-sup-
porting. The total income Of the colonies
for 1900 from tariff dues and the like
amounted TO IS 226, 470. while the deficit il
is stated. reached S6,9U.S2
The ideal relations between a colony and
the mother country, says Mr.. Harris, are
those which permit the colony to produce
the raw material which the mother cOun-
try receives and pays back in manufac-
tured state, but In accordance with an ir
resistibe law OF economies, a colony with
great material resources will emancipate
itself gradually from the mother country.
1T is doubtful, however" continues Mr..
Harris whether this will shortly be true
of any OF the present colonies of Ger
many" In almost every part of the world
IL is stated. where Germany's acquisitions
are situated, there is in the immediate
neighbOrhoOd a colony of Great Britain or
OF some other country which is better able
TO produce colonial products. Great Brit
ain" says Mr.. Harris, either directly or
through the medium of her colonies has
a monopoly of almost half the commerce
Of the German dependencies" The com
mercial development of German Southwest
Africa. Mr.. Harris states, viii probably be
retarded by the competition and agrees
siveness Of Cape Colony. Tables are sub
mitted showing that Germany's share in
the exports of her own colonies is only so
per cent, while OF all the products re-
Quired by her dependencies. the mother
country supplies only about 60 per cent.