Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-12
.GERMANY'S TARIFF
A Warfare With the United
States.
FEAR OF COMPETITION
MANIFESTED IN ALL CIRCLES IN
THE EMPIRE.
New Meat Inspection Law Will Debar
Big Beef Companies From Export
ing-The Monroe Doctrine.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

| Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
BERLIN, February 81, 1903.
| Germany has now armed itself thorough
| ~ for a tariff warfare with the United
States. In the legislative chambers of the
reichstag. the landstag and the bourse, as
we'll as commercial exchanges, the one
warning utterance is to be heard, Ihe
| United States is our most formidable COM
mercial rival" To dislodge this powerful
competitor from the domestic markets is
one of the objects Of the large syndicates
and newly reorganized kartels Figures
relate the facts more eloquently than words.
The statistics of imports from the United
States reveal how successful thus far has
been the quiet but systematic movement OF
the large German syndicates and producers
to cripple American trade in Germany
The diplomatic notes exchanged between
Berlin and Washington may be clothed IN
expressions of trust and confidence. But
there is no reflection Of this same spirit in
the discussions Of commercial relations with
the United States, either in parliament or
upon the stump. For the reichstag cleo
lions are drawing nigh, and upon all the
hillsides one may obtain visions Of the po-
litical factions preparing for what Is ex-
pected to be the bitterest campaign since
the establishment of the empire. No other
country cuts such an important inquire IN
the campaign discussions here as the United
States. Not only Is 1t looked upon as the
power which most threatens Germany's for
eign commerce, especially in South Ameri-
ca, but as q dangerous element In the do
nestle markets.
New Meat Inspection Law.
April the new meat inspection law goes
into effect. which will debar completely the
big packing and canned beef exporting
companies of Chicago and Kansas City
from sending their products through Ger
man custom houses. The exclusion Is as
rigid as a Chinese wall. demanding condi-
lions which are practically fatal to the
Importation Of preserved meats. This Is to
be the opening shot Of the campaign. The
next trump card will be the dissolution Of
the only commercial treaty existing be-
tween Germany and the United States un-
der the favorite nation clause. Additional
measures for the warding of Of American
competition will be the special amendment
of the tariff bill discriminating against the
Rockefeller Oil Company products, special
protective measures OF the Prussian minis
ter Of the interior against the American
Tobacco Company and finally the enact
ment Of the exorbitant tariff measure it
self. which Is designed to crush out at least
80 per cent of the American firms now
| transacting business In Germany and Sc
riously hampering the remaining 20 per
| cent to such an extent as to render trade
| Improbable. When 1t is recalled how on
| erous the burdens are which are now al
ready placed upon American firms In Ger
! many the situation will be rightly meas
| ured In Washington and proper steps taken
| to counter such rigid tariff exclusion policy.
| The Equitable Life Insurance Company
| Is lquidating Its assets in Germany for the
purpose Of quitting the field. owing to the
| heavy rules placed upon the "syG.,any.
| Life. fire and mutual insurance companies
| of the United States are subjected to spe-
| cial taxation under the income tag and
| stamp duties which sadly impair receipts.
| The income tax law Is Of such an elastic
nature that 1t Is generally strained to work
| against foreign. and especially American,
| companies. 1t Is likewise true that in the
| closing Of contracts with employees the
| United States firms are obliged to seek mu-
] tual protection by the organization Of a
| chamber of commerce to guard against I'M
| fair treatment and judgments from the So
| called gewerbe gericht. the refuge Of the
laboring man and employe in every storm.
Demand for Reciprocal Treaties.
The demand among American business
men in Germany is universal for reciprocal
treaties between Germany and the United
| States. Chancellor Won Buelow and Count
Posadowski, the minister of interior and
| author of the tariff bill, made no secret Of
the policy of the government to exert every
| nerve In order to force the Washington
| committees to pass favorably upon a reel
| procity treaty with Germany. This Is the
| primary and ultimate object Of the special
| exclusion laws. When considered from the
| standpoint of international trade diploma cy
| the attitude of the German government can
| not be impeached. for the Dingley tariff acts
! much more drastic against German exports
| than the new tariff will against American
| exports. Nevertheless Germany is placed
| in defensive position because Of Its limited
producing capacity and its ever-growing
consuming interests not alone of food stuffs,
| but raw materials. Germany may be COM
| pared to big workshop, compelled to draw
| raw materials in large proportion from
| other countries, but by means of cheap,
economic and Industrious labor turning it
into cheap finished products with which it
| Is able to swamp foreign markets.
| Several delegations Of Americans in bust
| ness in Germany, and representing the large
agricultural. machinery, tools, electrical
and food products concerns Of the United
| States will leave here shortly to make
| representations at Washington intending to
convince the State Department how neces-
| sary 1t Is to close mutual trade relations
with Germany. 1t is not alone the govern
ment which Is enltsting all It's legislative
instruments and reserve expedients to force
| the United States to pare down the Dingley
law, but likewise the large Industrial YER
bands and kartells which are interested
| however, In maintaining a high protective
wall for finished products and free trade
relations on raw materials. The coal. iron
|
| posits Of Germany are showing signs of ex-
| haustion, and manufacturers and consum-
ers demand the cheap introduction Of raw
materials from other countries rather than
| face a complete exhaustion at home In
this respect Germany Is thrown completely
| in some branches OF trade and imports
| upon the United States.
Excited Over Treaty With Venezuela.
The newspapers and legislators in the
reichsta8 are very much excited these DAYS
over the prospect Of the United States ne
gotiating special trade treaties with Vene-
zuela and other South American republics.
Due to the aggressive German naval cam
paign and seizure Of ships and forts at
| Venezuela. the German trade with that re-
public is almost paralyzed. according to lat
est reports from Caracas to the German for
eign office. Consular reports from Brazil.
Colombia and other republics prove that the
United States drummer is becoming exceed
ingly active and that German trade is stead
lily retreating in some parts before the new