The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-02
TRADE TREATY
 WITH GERMANY Presidents Proclamation An- nounces Conclusion of Terms RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS Reduced Duties Prescribed on List of Articles of German Production.
 Promote Friendly Re.
 Iations.
RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS

Washington, June 1.-The President to- day issued a proclamation announcing ths conclusion of a commercial arrange ment between the United States and Ger many under the third section of the Dingley act. The proclamation is brief, simply announcing the list of articles under which the United States grants reduced duties to Germany and under taking of the German government to make reciprocity concessions
 A letter from Secretary Cortelyou, da4G1 April g. is made public in which the secretary says that the negotiation of the proposed commercial agreement would promote friendly relations and would otherwise be of benefit to this country. The state department also has made public an analytical statement of the points of the new arrangement, from which it appears that about forty ar- ticles of American production, embrac- ing most of the articles of trade during the past year, are to be subject to the minimum tariff rates, upon admission to Germany
 Regret is expressed that it has not been possible, owing to the attitude of the German government, to secure the minimum tariff rates for all American products and it is said that this con cession can only be secured by substan- tial tariff concessions by the United States in the shape of a reciprocity treaty subject to the approval of Congress.
 The Presidents proclamation in it's pre- amble relterates the fact that the German government has entered into a commer- ciai agreement with the United States under section three of the Dingley act which the President regards as securing reciprocal and equivalent concessions' In favor of the United States. Therefore, he prescribes reduced duties on the fol- lowing articles of German production en- tering the United States:
 Brandies, $1.55 per gallon; champagnes, quarts, $6 per dozen; pints, $3 half plnts, M 50; magnums, S6 per dozen, and add Sl9O per gallon; wine In bottles, $l 25 per case of one dozen; paintings, draw ings and statuary, 15 per cent advalo- rem. The explanation statement issued from the department is in effect a denl- onstration of the benefits secured by America under the new arrangement. It IS said that 1t secures for American ex- port trade the benefit of most of the present German conventonalitles. In evil dence of this, the statement enumerates these articles of American upon which the minimum tariff rate Is conceded by Germany, by the new agreement Rye wheat, barley, oats, maize, sorghum beans, linseed, and hemp seed flour (ex- cept oatS), walnuts and hazelnuts, fresh apples, pears and quinces, fresh peaches and oranges, dried apples, pears, apricots and peaches; sheep, hogs, fresh, chilled of frozen or prepared meats; lard, timed goods and preserved tomatoes and olives
 It is stated that for the following ar ticles special reduction of from 20 to 50 per cent have been secured below even the minimum:
 Timber, wood paving and for casks leather, saddles and trunkmakers' ware miscellaneous leather goods and harness; rubber tubes, wares and coated textiles; many kinds of paper; goods, glass plate hollow and sheet; engines, freight and motor cars, and motor cycles and car riages.
 The statement shows that 96.7 per cent of the total importations of American products will continue to enjoy in Ger many the treatment of the most favored nation. It is admitted that considerable number of commodities are not yet in the list of reductions. put It Is stated that fortunately, in these the United States has little or no especial trade with Ger many. On the other hand, 1t Is said that the total value of German goods that would participate in the benefit of these new agreements in 1906 amounted to only Sl,96l 2S5, or only IA per cent of our total importation from Germany. Considering the respective concessions from the view point of the amount of duties to be re- mitted by either government the advan- tage is decidedly in favor of the United States.