The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-31

cultural interests in particular suffered fir consequence of the treaties of the nineties, whose chief purpose was to win foreign markets. For this reason special attention was given to German agrieul- ture In the new tariff. That this aim is not hostile to the commercial treaties and can be reconciled with the spirit of con sideration for the interests of other coun- tries, we have already proved by the ne- gotiations of a series of new commercial conventions. With the United States. too. we can live upon a friendly footing in trade relations and extend our system of exchanges to the advantage of both coun- tries. Such is our will"
 Could not the existing arrangements resting on the most favored nation in- depreciation of the existing treaties be continued? That appears to be the pre- vailng sentiment in the United States
 rrince von Buelow replying, said:
 Conditions Must Be Changed.
 "A continuation of the present condi- tions unchanged is not possible, if only for the formal reason that our agreement of 1900 with the United States Is founded expressly upon tariff duties. Under the old commercial treaties with Austro- Hun gary, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Servia Roumania and Russia, these duties in consequence of our new tariff and our
 
 at the end of February. 1906. Thus the Standardization agreement will lose it's basis when the new tariff goes into ef- feet March 1 next. and therefore. the imperial government Is under the necessi- ty of giving notice of the termination of this agreement on March 1.
 We by no means wish, however, that the present agreement should not be sr- perceded by another 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 peoples. but also with the economic needs of both.
 ''The imperial ambassador, Baron Spec Von Sternburg. who will return in a few days to his post at Washington. will lay before the American government pro- posals corresponding to this statement of the case. Of course we wish in our new agreement with the United States to maintain the same points of view those that controlled us in recasting our gen. eral commercial relationship and in the new commercial treaties already nego- tiated.
 Within Practical Limits.
 We have accordingly drawn our pro- posals after careful examination of the German interests affected. Our proposal will. we think. be quite within practicable limits. and certainly we shall approach the American government with no re- quest 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 far. Moreover. they do not always know and consider specifically the condi- tions on the other side. The two gov ernments are in better position to meas ure what is possible and practicable. We on this side believe with confidence that conciliatory snirit on both sides will harmonze the German and American standpoints We hope on cooperation with the American government which has always emphs sized the idea that a just reciprocitv must be the basis of all commercial agreements to reach an ar ranrement satisfactory to both nations .
 Would you conduct such negotiations by correspondence was asked.
 "The most expeditious means for fur thering the work" said the prince, would be that ten mer on both sides havino special acquaintance with customs and