The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-04
GERMAN AMERICAN
TREATY UNLIKELY
Reciprocal Agreement on Tariff
Involves Grasping Condi-
tions from Kaiser.
BY w. w. Jermane.

washington, Aug. 400 much de-
pendence should not be placed on re-
from this city regarding the probable
ity of an early and satisfactory agree
ment between the United States and
Germany on the question of reciprocity.
It is true that this question will come
up early in the next session Of congress,
which will probably open about the
middle Of November, but all talk as to
what may be done should be punctu-
ated with Interrogation marks.
The difficulties in the way Of
reciprocal agreement with Germany are
great. The German ambassador has
confded to the president, unoffciallY,
the terms on which that country will
consent to a new trade treaty, and it.
is noteworthy that nothing is coming
out from Oyster Bay to indicate that
the way is smooth and easy. That
both countries will try to make such
a treaty is undoubtedly. certain, but
scure, and the safest guessers are say
ing that nothing worth while can be
accomplished.
Conditions from Germany.
In the interview which Baron Speck
Won Sternberg had with the president,
he mentioned, among other things, two
major propositions which he insisted
should be considered as conditions pre-
cedent to any reciprocal treaty. To
neither of these conditions can the
United States honorably assent.
Germany's first demand is for an ad-
vantage in this country over Great
Britain. She wants any treaty which
may be made so arranged as to favor
certain classes of German goods which
we have been accustomed to buying
from Great Britain. Great Britain is
our best customer in the world markets,
and obviously we would not be inclined
to discriminate against her without
such discrimination would be received
with such disfavor by the country at
large as to insure It's speedy defeat.
The second German demand is for a
larger American market for German
sugar. This market we cannot give
because of the 20 per cent preferen.
tial guaranteed to Cuba under oul
treaty with that country. That treaty
has three years yet to rum, and any
| United States from top to bottom, anc
result in the defeat of any politica
party bringing it forward. Germany
manufactures about 100000 tons Of
about l,225,O60 tons. Her capacity K
manufacture sugar is only limited by
her export market for that article, an(
naturally she is anxious to secure
better footing in the country which i
the largest sugar consumer in tn
world. zas.sss.
What May Block Treaty.
With these two demands standing al
the forefront Of the German position
it is easy to understand why nothing
may be accomplished in the way o:
q reciprocity treaty. It may be tina
these demands will be moderated, bu
there is nothing at present suggesting
any such modification. Germany ha
with Greece and Asia Minor preferen
tial agreement similar to that which tn
United States has with Cuba. Gu
trade with those countries, however, i
so slight as render the preferential O.
no consequence, from our point of view
But our preferential with Cuba stand
directly in the way Of a radical exten
sion Of the German sugar trade in thi
4 hemisphere. It is perhaps natural tina
Germany should seek to compel re
spect on our part for her demands, bu
the difficulties in the way are 50 grea
as, seemingly, to insure defeat even be
fore the negotiations are begun.
The club which Germany holds owe
us is her reciprocal arrangements, re
Gently concluded, with Russia, Austria
Hungary. Italy, Switzerland, Belgium