The Washington times., 1906-01-16
Recent Purchases OF
FoodStuffS Remark
ably Heavy
BATTLE OF SCHEDULES
Kaiser'S People Willing to
Pay for Satisfaction
of Fighting.

In a time of peace Germany is prepar-
ing for a tariff war
German importations Of American
foodstuffs have increased in the last few
months at rate which would be start
ling If it were not we'll known that Ger
man business men are terrifying them
selves against the coming time of need
when the American market will be
practically closed 10 them BY the opera
tion of their new tarif law, which will
take effect March l.
Meat Packers Busy.
The latest figures available on the
German importations OF American food
stuffs are for November, 1905. The other
day Secretary Wilson asked an emer
geney provision of special funds 10 pay
for meat inspection at American pack
ing centers. and il developed that the
reason was that American packers are
being rushed to the limit OF their ca
pacity TO prepare meats for shipment to
Germany, in anticipation OF the taking
effect of the new German schedules
which viii raise the tariffs on our meats
In many cases as much as 800 per cent.
In view of these figures. there is little
doubt in the minds Of pubic men that
Germany fully expected a war OF SEIZED
ules- The importation is regarded as
speculative; but it is unquestionably
based on accurate knowledge of the
plans Of the Berlin government.
Germany Willing to Pay.
Germany will pay a high price for the
satisfaction of fighting "A tariff battle
with America, bat apparently she is
willing 10 pay il, The agrarian inter-
ests Of the empire still dominate at
Berlin, despite the great interest Of the
empire in industrial development and
the wonderful rise Or manufacturing
trade and commerce, the growth of
cities. and the generaI tendency to con
vert the country into a workshop. Ger
many is still in much tile same condi-
tion that England was when the great
manufacturing city of Manchester had
the same representation in the commons
that was accredited to many country
constituencies with almost no popula-
tion AT all. Germany as whole wants
American meat: but the German gov
eminent, dominated by the agricultural
interests, wants To shut IL out.
The threat OF a tariff war is having
some remarkable effects. Thus Belgium,
a close neighbor of Germany. which un-
der ordinary circumstances buys a good
deal Of its foodstuffs from Germany, is
laying in great store of American
foods In November, 1904, Belgium
bought $4,000 pounds OF American canned
beef and in November. 1905. it bought
$4,000 pounds. This phase is an ex-
tremely interesting one. North Ger
many is Industrial; south Germany is
agricultural But railroad rates in Ger
many have been so high that the south
German farmers have complained for
many years that they could not get
their products into the north German
markets in competition with American
products. Consequently. north Germany
has bought American meat. while south
German meat was shipped down the
Rhine and sold 10 Belgium and Holland.
Held Back Their Meats.
But with tariff war threatened. the
south Germans have held back their
meats; the low countries have been
forced TO buy in the United States 1t
IS an excellent Illustration incidentally,
of the advantage which this country
enjoys as the great source OF surplus
food supplies for all Europe. If Germany
doesn't buy our surplus she must buy
elsewhere, ana what she takes else
where must leave a deficit that this
country will still supply; for nature is
currently understood TO entertain pre-
JUDGES against vacuum. In November
1904 Germany bought from us $500
pounds OF canned beef. which was raised
TO 1880 pounds in November. 1905. This
increase Is not nearly so large as the in
crease in our sales TO Belgium: but the
German tariff threat is considered the
cause in both cases.
Take number. Of important items Of
f0odstuHS, and the same story is told
Thus IN fresh beef, we sent 10 Germany
In November. 1904, $4,000 pounds This
was raised TO the enormous figure OF
2.44I000 pounds in November. 1905, while
Belgian purchases from this country
were increased from $4,000 10 $4,000
pounds, and the Netherlands increased
their takings from IS. 600 TO I52, 600 pounds.
Even the United Kingdom bought nearly
q half more fresh beef IN November.
1900 than in the same month of 1904:
and the German tariff is again given as
at least partly responsible.
Some November Figures.
Take the item of tallow EngIands
purchases from us fell off. but Ger
many's increased from SOD. 600 to l. 100. 600
pounds from November. 1904. TO Novem-
Der, 1905. Ard bacon comes In as an ex-
celient illustration. Here are the No
vember figures:
1904 lbs. 1906. lbs.
6erndny .-...---........, 6S6.000 l,I75,O00
I5elsiuiii' ..--.---.-..--... 1Sl.000 2.427, 600
Netherlands. l6l 900 sea. 900
Against these immense increases the
reports show that England bought a
modest increase Of about Is per cent in
1906. The explanation given is exactly
the same as IN the preceding case.
In purchases Of hams Germany IN
creased from Zoo TO l35 600 from 1904 10
1865. th1 months compared being Novem-
Der. Belgium almost doubled her pur-
chases, and the Netherlands multiplied
theirs by six, raising the figure from
1900 TO 25s.O0O
Salt or picked pork makes a similar
showing or lard we sold Germany i'm
November. 1901. only $3.50, 600 pounds; in
increased TO %, $4,000 IN 1905 Belgium
more than doubled her order, and the
Nethe Tlands almost multiplied theirs by
three.
And the despised oleomargarine had a
like experience Germany increased her
purchases from America from 500 600
to 1851 900 pounds; the Netherlands from
B. 500, coo to 1886 600 pounds.
In wheat no exports 10 Germany were
reported in November, 1904, while TS6 900
bushels went there in the same month
of IqOs OF wheat -four Is 600 baIrefS