New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-31
GERMAN RECIPROCITY.
PROPOSALS FOR TREATY
Prince Ton BueIosc on Trade Reid-
lions scith United States.

Berlin Oct 3o-Baron Speck Won Sternourg'
the German Ambassador to the United STATES
who sailed for New-York October - from
bremen on the North German Lloyd steamer
Kaiser Wilhelm ii. will on his arrival at WASH
,neton this week submit TO President Roosevelt
the proposals of the German government TOT
new trade agreement between the United States
and Germany. The Ambassador has nun
knowledge of the German governments posilioil
ana is prepared to negotiate
The correspondent of The Associated Press
asked the Foreign Office if in view of the pun
lie interest in the United States on this subject
the Imperial Chancellor would not define Ger
rnany's attitude with some precision Prince
Won Biilow received the correspondent To-Day
and among other things said:
An idea I suspect is abroad in America that
the changes in the German tariffs ana the Ihou-
flying agreements with other Eufopean cot tia
tries were in some way directed against liio
United States and that Germany deSlreu 70
damage the trade of the United states. Nc
am glad to say. was never hlotlSe ha+ are
German government and the proposals tLldI a. .,
about TO be made designed 10 ihCredse -.
exchanges between the two countries anu
To contract them. The facilities Tor uat c9 fas
ts+ion barween Germany and the United STATES
are destroying their locality, ana by the &c
ZION of forces beyond the control Oh eilLe H. .ar
them are bringing the two peoples nv" go
identity of economic interests Each count III
has specfal aptitudes and products OF Nnieh IL
other may avail itself and yer Id - ite
revenue and protective Systems "H'"
crTnanv Is as little inclined to shape Its COM
x,erciaI 1oitoy according TO rigid dogma as tue
ettad etates Ia we desire to promote the IN
terests Of our country and act IN coIsloe go
81 its economic needs The old taflll u -,
,,-,+h The amend added to it, IN the course
90 time no longer correspondent in view OF tii9
development of Germany's economic me- e 49,
our interests. Germanys agrlculIuIe. II! - pa
ficnlar suffered in consequence of the treaues o.
the COS whose chief purpose was 10 WIl - IUl
eI1n markets For this reason Speclal aitVillott
Nc given TO German agriculture in me ne"
ssfs 1Tbst this aim is not hostile TO the COM
rnerc,sl treaties and can be reconc1ied win tlle
soirit of consideration for the interests OF one
countries we have already proved by the LIeso
.tn.Inn If a series of new commercial conVen-
sions with the United States too, we can nVS
upon friendly footing In trade retatit tb ad
eytenF our system of exchanges 10 tiiS ne, au
vantage of both countries. Such Is our Will
"couid not the existing arrangement resting
on the most favored nation Interpretation OF the
existing treaties be continued? That appears 10
be the prevailing sentiment in the United
States" was asked.
Prince Won Bilow replied:
A continuation of the present conditions I'M
changed is not possible if only for the formal rea-
son that our agreement of 1900 with the Ofhteu
States is founded expressly upon tarhI duties
under the old commercial treaties with austria
Hungary. Italy, Switzerland. Belgium, Servla,
Runnania and Russia These duties, IN conse-
ouence of our new tariff and new CONNER
cial treaties, will be abolished at the end OF
February. 1906 Thus the German-Amer1can
agreement will lose its basis when the new tarlf
goes into effect March l next and, therefore,
the imperial government is under the necessity
of giving notice of the termination Oh TINS agree
lnent March l.
We by no means wish, however. that the pres
ent agreement should not be superseded by an
other arrangement. We have, naturally, lively
wish to reach a new agreement with the United
States and this wish corresponds not only with
the friendly political relations of the two peo-
pies, but also with the economic needs or both
The Imperial Ambassador, Baron Speck Won
Sternburg, who will return in a few days to his
post at washington, will lay before the Ameri-
can government proposals corresponding TO this
statement OF the case. OF course, we WISH IN
our new agreement with the United States. TO
maintain the same point Of view as those that
controlled US in recasting our general CONNER
cial relationships and in the new commercial
treaties already negotiated. We have accord
ingly drawn our proposals after careful exam
ination OF the German interests atfected. our
propositions will we think. be quite within prac-
ticable limits and certainly we shall approach
the American government with no request that
would injure the vital features of the American
economic organism.
It seems to me that interested parties on both
sides sometimes set their hopes too high, and
sometimes let their fears go too Tar. Moreover,
they do not always know and consider suffi-
GENTLY the conditions the other side The
two governments are in a better position to
measure what is possible and practicable We
on this side believe with confidence that con-
ciliatory spirit both sides will harmonic the
German ana american viewpoints w e nope,
In cooperation with the American government,
which has always emphasized the idea that
Just reciprocity must be the basis of all COM
mercial agreements, to reach an arrangement
E4isfactory to both nations.
sWould you conduct such negotiations by cor
was asked.
''The most expeditions for furthering
the work" said the prince would be that ten
men both sides having special acquaintance
with customs and tariff matters should meet
for an open and frank interchange of views and
friendly explanations. direct acquaintance
with the viewpoint Of the opposite party always
has wholesome and a conciliatory effect. Per
haps an agreement could be attained in this
way more surely and more quickly.
I'VE sincerely wish such an understanding,
and labor for it zealously, in the consciousness
that though the wishes. interests and opinions
Of either side may differ still it is quite possible
TO reconcile them, more especially when the gem
eral advantages Of sound reciprocity are kept
in view"