New-York tribune., 1904-08-16
GERlfANY AND PrsSL4.

Few items Of current news, probably, have
been received with more relief and gratitude in
both Russia and Germany, and at the same
time few have more piqued curiosity, than the
announcement of the signing of a new CONNER
cial treaty between those countries. Such
treaty was necessary because Of the new Ger
man tariff. and it was highly important because
each of those countries is Of more Importance to
the other commercially than any other In the
world. They had tariff war some years ago.
and they still remember keenly how ruinous it
was Above all else, they wish to avoid its
repetition. SO the negotiations for a new
trea Is have been watched with intense earnest
ness. and the Gar sent his ablest Minister, Mr..
Witte. 10 Berlin at the crucial moment TO as
sure the success Of them. Mr.. Witte succeeded.
The treaty is made, and doubtless both govern
ments now breathe more freely. How the two
peoples viii feel we may know when the terms
Of the treaty are revealed
They will probably not be revealed for some
time yet; that is to say. not until other CONNER
cial treaties are concluded 10y Germany with
other powers, and especially with austria Hun
gary and Rumania, and progress on -10S0 latter
treaties is slow There is some 'rr VI Ger
many that the stipulatlons Of the tre-ty Eiay
not be found altogether to the liking of Ger
man industrIalsts. The new German tariff Is
notoriousIy an agrarian one framed for the
benefit Of the Junkers and Agrarans more than
for any other class OF the empire Naturally,
then. the Russian treaty will be found to have
a strong agrarlan tinge 1t is thought 1t will
require Russia TO accept the minimum grain
duty prescribed by the new German tariff and
I'm return will make some concessions TO Rus
sia which will bear hardly upon the chemical
and electrical industries Of Germany. 1t Will
be of marked interest. too. 10 see whether Rus
sla has carried or has relnquished her point
that there should be difference I'm tariff rates
between goods carried by land and those carried
bv sea That is a favorite fad Of Russias,
which, II VIII be recalled. she endeavored 10
stabllsh In Manchuria and. indeed, the whole
OF China, so that she could send in her goods by
rail overland at a lower rate Of duty than Amer
ican borne goods had to pay.
Rv no means the least interesting circum-
stance Of the conclusion Of this treaty IS that
it has been effected despite an unquesuouably
serious straining OF popular IL not OF official
relations between the two countries. There IS
undeniably much irritation and resentment in
Germany over the Russian interference win
German commerce IN the Far East. The En-
peror is Jealous Of the integrity and dignity OF
his flag at sea, and all Germany IS much set
upon winning o leading place In East Asian
trade for which a basis has been secured AT
Efao-C Cbau Still more. there is widespread
ponular wrath over the revelations of the "sedi-
tion" trials at K0nigsberE, in which German
police officers and courts were made to do the
,yorl, Of Russians. and German subjects were
rnnrisoned on the strength of forged and per
tured evidence manufactured by Russian spies
Tint in these circumstances a friendly treaty
has been concluded is IA decided triumph for
Count Won Bulow and Mr.. Witte.