The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-16
GERMANY IS STILL TALKING ON TARIFF Argument Directed Against U.
 s, and Argentina IT MEANS A TARIFF WAR Herr Bernstein Says Such Contest Would Hurt His country-seems
 to Have Fear of the
 United States.
IT MEANS A TARIFF WAR

Berlin, January 15-The debate in the reichstag on Baron Heylzuherrnsheim's resolution asking the government to de- nounce the most favored nation treaties, directed against the United A.ates and Argentina, and a substitute requesting the government to denounce treaties with countries where experience had shown that the most favored nation clause was injurious to Germany's interests was continued today Herr Bernstein, social ist, said the resolutions meant a tariff war, and that tariff wars should not be entered upon lightly with a country like the United States, nor with Argentina, whence Germany drew a large supply of wool
 The burden of tariff war with the United States would rest chiefly on the German working man. Germany must have American wheat. Therefore a trade war would mean dearer bread. The note running through Herr Bernsteins speech was fear of the United Stares
 Count Von Kantz, the agrarian lead CT, expressed astonishment over the fact that the government had not denounced the commercial treaties before December 23, considering that agricultural produce in Germany does not pay for the cost of production.
 u. S. No Longer Entitled to 1t.
 Further referring to Secretary Posadow- sky-Wehner's declaration yesterday that the United States was no longer entitled to the most favored nation treatment, Count Von Kanitz criticised the govern ment for emitting to inform the reichstag in due time of its suspension.
 Secretary Posadowsky- Wehner again discussed the treaty relations with the United States. He said:
 "When the preceding speaker asserts that the best basis for trade relations with the United States is tariff treaty the allied governments agree with him fully. We should be glad to conclude such a treaty with that great country at an early day.
 "Supplementing my remarks of yester- day let me add that the existing com mercial relations with the United States rest upon the treaty made in 1928 between the United States and Prussia. We were of the opinion that the most favored na- ton principle existed and was based upon paragra phs five and nine of that old Prus- sian treaty In other words, that all the concessions made by one of the contract ing states to third country must ipso jure be extended to a most favored state, whether such concessions were made be- fore that treaty was negotiated or after wards. But the United States was of a different opinion.
 Djngley Tariff.
 "Then came the Dingley tariff, under which the United States government con- cluded two treaties with France and a series of agreements with other coun- tries. Acting upon our interpretation of the most favored nation treaty, we asked the United States to extend to Germany the concessions made to France. Wash ington then pointed out that the most favored nation principle referred only 10 conditions antecedent to the treaty of 1928. We then began neg0tiations upon this view of the case, believing we could remove this point from controversy for the present by maintaining the status quo toward the United states, but upon the pre-supposition and condition that the United States grant us the same con- sessions as made to France under the Dingley tariff. The American govern ment did SO, but we regard 1t as un- necessary to lay the agreement before the reichstag, because as a matter of fact the United States conceded to us nothing new"
 The discussion was then adjourned until tomorrow