The Washington times., 1905-03-07
The Senate and Our German
Trade.

Americans will follow with extreme
interest the progress of the Kaiser's
negotiations for reciprocity treaties
with this country. TIE need is mani
fest. William II and the President
are both much in earnest. But Con-
gress is so opposed to revising the
tariff that it has not yielded, and
gives no sign of yielding to the clear
demand Of the country for lower du-
ties, ana it is hardly likely to defer
to the desire of the Executive and
the ruler of another country to lower
those duties by means Of treaties.
His watehful and influential ambas-
sador has probably kept the Kaiser
intimately informed as to the state
OF public opinion in this country. AS
suming that to be true. William II
probably had little hope Of accom-
plishing results at the session Of Con-
gress just closed. or the special ses-
sion now in progress. What he hopes
to do, evidently, is to add fuel to the
fire of public discussion which must
eyentually-this year or some other
burn up the opposition in the Senate
It is clear the Senate is playing
with fire. Europe generally. and Ger
many in particular, seem to be losing
their fear OF the American invasion"
The ST. Louis Exposition has con-
tributed largely to dissipate it. The
strange lesson which Europe absorb
ed there was this-the words are
those of an expert German technical
writer.
Our well-known pessinlists, who shud-
der whenever a ton of American iron fs
90 visit St Louis. Let them here study
the actual state of technical Develop
nent, especially let t'-N-- inform them
selves as to the effects of the protective
tariff and the trusts upon technical
progress: let them also study the ever
increasing friction between capital and
labor-then. if they are acquainted with
conditions at home. they must relegate
the oStensibie American danger" to the
realm OF fable
January 1, 1906, there go into effect
in Germany a series Of new CONNER
cial treaties with other nations which
are to continue twelve years. After
that day new tariff-constructe pal
pably as a trade barrier-will be in
force. The situation of the United
States in relation to its trade with
Germany will then be most disad-
yantageous. A remarkably interest
ing and forceful writer in the Atlantic
Monthly epitomizes this situation in
very few sentences. They are worth
the attention of every reader of The
Times:
In view Of the near approach of the
time when Germanys commercial re-
lations shall be placed upon a new tariff
basis, no little concern is felt as to
the future of the country's trade with
us. The Importance of removing all
uncertainty about the matter is fully
realized; and ii has been asserted re-
peatedly in the press and in the reich
stag that it is more important for Ger
many to get a satisfactory commercial
treaty with the United States than with
her immediate neighbors. Our CONNER
eial people who are interested in the
export trade with Germany should lose
no time IN convincing Congress that the
.'stand-r:tt" policy is an extremely un-
wise one. If that policy is TO continue
I can see no other result than that all
our exports TO Germany shall be placed
under the German general tariff duties,
while those of our competitors Will come
in at greatly reduced rates.