Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-20
GERMAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Question of Its Improvement Heard in
Reichstag.

Berlin, April 19.-The questions Of
improving the German consular service
through the additional of expert COM
mercial advisers and the promotion and
organization of German chambers of
i.eichstag, today.
Herr Muench- Ferber National In
eraD offered a resolution asking TO: "a
appropriation for a so-called advisory
council of experts from the German
commercial classes, to be attached to
the more important of the German con-
sulates. Speaking to the resolution.
Herr Muench-Ferbers said the German
consuls too often have merely legal
training. without interest in trade or
industry.
Moreover, they We're shifted from
place to place too frequently. The COM
mercial ATTACKS assigned to certain
consulates were not sufficient, because
they were mostly travelling over a large
extent of territory. What was wanted
was a council of experts. permanently
located in the important centers, with
paid secretary. Herr Muench- Fer
Der argued that Germany must improve
her sources of information abroad be-
cause her two chief competitors, the
United States and Great Britain. were
doing so.
Herr Muench-Ferber, continuing
said:
IAN American chamber of commerce
exists In Berlin which work excellently
Moreover the United States has a COM
mercial museum at Philadelphia with an
army of correspondents over the whole
world. American business houses like
shoe factories and others are springing up
In our cities like mushrooms. Our mer-
chants can already begin tale of Woe
similar to that of the agriculturalists
about American competition. Our bust
ness people will soon have nothing to do
but emigrate to America and utilize their
intelligence there to the detriment of
their own countrymen. A beginning has
already been made in the textile industry
Germany must III all friendliness and
amiability toward the United States shape
tariff laws on the American pattern
The speaker further complained that
commerce abroad. respectively at Brus-
sells and Bucharest. The former he add
ed. leads languishing existence. threat
ening to disband unless the imperial gov
eminent grants it subsidy.
Herr Dove. Radical. said he doubted
whether it was wise to foster the export
trade through artificial means.
Foreign Secretary Won Richthoff in
speaking of chambers of commerce, gave
an explanation of Germanys failure to
promote the same. He argued that one
state has not the right to organize boards
in another state except embassies and
consulates. The object of chambers of
commerce, he added. was an encroach-
ment on the territorial rights of other
states The foreign office had steadily
opposed such organizations abroad be-
if must assume responsibility for Ill
their acts. For the same reason the for
eign office avoided entering into official
relations with foreign chambers here. Ac
cording to the experience gained in many
cases it is very easy for friction to arise
between chambers of commerce and con-
SulateS.
The secretary explained that he had no
serious objections to Herr Muench- Fer
bers resolution. but he did not expect
much from such councils
The resolution of Herr Muench- Ferber
was adopted by n large majority and the
House proceeded with further details of
the foreign Office budget
Herr kaempf referred to the refusal of
the Russian government to permit Ger
man-Jewish commercial travellers to cir
culate freely in Russia, their passports
being vised so as to indicate that they
are Hebrews
Secretary Won Richthoff said Russia
had never left the foreign office in doubt
that German Jews travelling in Russia
Russian Jews. The foreign office. he add
ed. was still trying to get the most favor
able treatment possible and hoped for sat-
y.f,