The Washington times., 1909-08-27
TARIFF NAY RESULT
IN COMMERCIAL WAR
Germans Think Rates Aimed
Chiefly Against
Them.
AMERICAN EXPORTS
MAY BE BOYCOTTED
France Also Expected to Take
Action Favoring High Rate
Against United States.

The optimistic views entertalhea pS
Treasury officials and other Government
functionaries and by some or the mem
bers of Congress over the way IN "Llch
the new ta1in law IS going TO be accept
ed by foreign governments are not war
raufed nv the advices which are reech-
ing here from different countries
9Dch advices, instead Of indicating
that this country is going to nave piaii
tariff sailing, as the result OF the max
tr,t7Ao and minimum law, and that the
different nations are going 70 teIilple
over themselves to make CONCESSIONS
such as will be necessary 70 prevent
TIE President from allowing the max
tu1,1m rates to apply, indicate that me
Tinted states, before many months Is
likely 10 have two gOOd-sized taFlIl wars
on its hands, II not more
Germany Will Retaliate.
lust now. the talk from Germany ana
from France is not at all reassur.is
for commercial peace Both countries
are much agitated over the new amer
lean tariff, especially the maximum Lea-
ture. In 10th countries. the govern
meuts are under pressure TO adopt
nlan of retaliation instead Of concilia-
lion. This is especially true OF Ger
many.
II is said the German manufacturers
and newspapers take the view that the
new tariff, both as TO The maximum
and as to many Of the increases in
rtes is aimed chiefly at Germany. This
has stirred up a great deal Of feeling
The government in Germany is being
urged 10 apply the German maximum
rates 10 all American imports 1t seems
10 be expected that after March u,
1910. the American maximum rates viii
Re enforced against Germany, and this
viii be looked or in that country as a
declaration of commercial war.
In consequence, there is talk in Ger
many. ana the newspapers are urging
thar the government begin the applica-
ton of the German maximum rates 10
all American goods from the time when
the present commercial arrangement
with the United States ends, next Feb
ruary. without waiting for the American
Government TO put the American maxi
mum rates IN effect.
Looks Bad For America.
It Is an extremely Interesting question
what viii happen II there is CONNER
German view Is that the United States
will get the worst Of it. IT is entirely
likely that such war would cause
bitter protest to 20 up from many lines
Of trade in this country.
The Germans are pointing out that in
1908 the American imports TO Germany
amounted to 500, o0o, 900, whereas the
German goods imported into the United
German goods exported to the United
states in 1903 declined largely over those
exported the year before. 50 the Ger
mans are calculating that II the United
States Is bent on war Of trade, Ger
many can put up with 1t longer than
the Americans.
The German view is that the new tar
if largely Increases the duties on a
large snare Of the goods which Ger
many sends 70 this country and that u
was intended 10 do So These include
razors, post cards. silk goods. cotton
fabrics and some others. The change In
the method Of valuation, whereby the
American wholesale market value is 10
be the basis of valuation on goods that
are consigned, is looked on by the Ger
mans as intended to raise the duties
Bitter Against United States.
Just now. judging by the tone Of the
press. there is much bitter feeling
against the United States The talk is
anything but cordial OF course, there
will be much negotiating back and forth
between now and the time when the
maximum tariff is supposed TO go into
effect, March 81 next Talk on the Ger
man side is that the German govern
ment must stand 10 fits guns and show
that IL is prepared TO stand tariff
war and that II this is done some con
cessiOns may be wrung from 1.-The
Yankees It is easy to see there is work
ahead for Secretary Knox and his subor-
diuates.
In France, the feeling is apparently
much the same is ia Germany. The
new tariff is looked on as materially in
creasing the rates on imports 10 Amer
iea from France. The fact that the trade
agreement with France is TO end Octo-
Der 81, is looked On by the French as
severe discrimination against their
country. They are talking repTisals, but
the difficulty from their position ia ef-
fecting retaliation IS that their maxi
mum duty applies now to most OF the
American goods sent into France. The
French could nor retaliate very strong
u without enacting new legislation.
France does not appear to be in as
strong position By any means as Ger
many
Ambassador Confers.
Ambassador Jusserand is IA paris at
present and is comforting with other
ministers OF the government to know
what course 10 take. One Of the things
that seems 10 be perplexing the French
ministers is whether President Taft will
have any latitude in the making Of a
new treaty or agreement or whether he
will have none and just simply have 10
enforce the maximum tarif rates
against French goods unless France
makes as mauT concessions 10 the
United States As 60 any other nation.
just what enianEIements viii arise
with other nations remains 10 be seen.
With respect TO Germany, one Of the
big questions is whether the Germans
are going 10 be forced 10 take of their
heavy impOsitlons on American meats
If American meats have easy entrance
into the empire then q great uproar
viii 90 UP from agricultural Germany.
1t is a question, too, whether France is
going to be driven into making suitable
concessions as 10 American meats.
FIRE ROUTS GUESTS.
NIAGARA-ON-THE Ontario.