Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
THE GERMAN EMPIRE
To Have It's Consistency Sc
verely Tested.
ENFORCING NEW TARIFF
FAVoRED-NATI CLAUSE IN
FORMER TREATIES
With Countries Which It Was Abb
sorbed Contain Clause and United
States Has Been So Treated.
ENFORCING NEW TARIFF

The German empire is to have its con-
sistency tested very severely in the en-
forcement of the new German tarin, which
goes into effect March L. 1866. On that
date all commercial treaty relations be-
tween this country and Germany will cease.
unless the United States should, in the
meantime, negotiate a commercial treaty
with Germany.
But the German government, in spite of
the attitude of this government, has al
ways main tanned that the most favored
nation" treaty of ISIS concluded between
the United States and Prussia, the treaties
containing a similar clause concluded with
the Hanseatic republics of Lubbock, Bre-
men and Hamburg in 1927 and with the
kingdom of Hanover in 1916, remained in
force after those independent nationa1ities
were absorbed by the German empire. The
claim has been made that the German gov
eminent has always, in pursuance of that
Interpretation of the situation, given to
the UEltSd Estates the lowest rates of
duties on imports in the German empire
that have been accorded any other coun-
try. Under this claim the German gov
eminent would have given the United
States the lowest rates Of duty even If the
Dingley law had not provided specifically
for reciprocal arrangement by which GER
tain importations from Germany should be
given preferential rates in exchange for
having American goods imported into Ger
many at the minimum rates of the present
German tariff.
That Treaty Will Expire.
But that arrangement was made under
the commercial treaty of 1S91-1S94 and as
that treaty will expire March l next the
present treaty arrangements made under
1t will expire at the same time. Unless
treaty is negotiated In the meantime this
country and Germany will be without any
special treaty arrangement. But on that
date the new German tariff will go into
effect. which makes maximum and mini
mum rates. The maximum rates are to
apply to countries that fail to negotiate
commercial treaties giving to German goods
the advantages equivalent with those of
the minimum rates of the new German
tariff
1t does not seem probable at this time
that such a treaty will be negotiated with
Germany by this country. If there is no
such treaty March / next the German gov
eminent will have to do one of two things.
1t will have to grant discriminating duties
against the imports from the United States
else declare that the old treaties made
by the nationalities which she has alb
sorbed are still in force and that under
them the most favored nation" clause
guarantees to the United States the right
to import goods into Germany on as low
rates are accorded any other country.
That may be a bitter pill for the Ger
man government to take, it is declared, in
view of the fact that the United States
has as consistently claimed that the Ger
man empire did not inherit the treaties
made by the United States with the coun-
tries that have since been absorbed by
Germany. Not only has the United States
clearly taken that position, but she today
grants to Cuba duty 20 per cent less than
that accorded to the beet sugar of Ger
many.