Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-04
'AVERTS TARIFF WAR
United States and Germany
Reach Agreement.
MINIMUM RATES GRANTED
Future Trade on Most Favored
Nation" Basis.
MEAT QUESTION GOES OVER
Not Pertinent to Tariff Negotiations
and Is Left for Future
Settlement
MINIMUM RATES GRANTED
NEAT QUESTION GOES OVER

Concessions by both the United States
and Germany have averted q threatened
tariff war. Negotiations have been con-
cluded between the two countries. which
settle the question OF minimum and maxi
mum rates. with the exception Of the
cattle and dressed meat issue. which will
be pursued hereafter in separate diplo-
matte representations.
The Secretary of State issued a state
ment in regard to the tariff agreement
in which he said:
In consequence of the friendly dispo-
sition of both governments an agreement
has been reached under which it will
be possible for the German government,
with the cooperation Of the imperial par
lament. to avoid any interruption OF
trade and at the same time to extend
to the United States not only the rates
at present enjoyed, but the entire remain
ing schedules Of minimum rates now &C
corded other countries.
Basis Of the Agreement.
The basis of the settlement Is that
Germany grants to the United States her
full conventional tariff rates in return for
the minimum tariff of the United States.
This Is an exchange of minimum for
minimum. 1t places the United States
countries to which Germany grants con-
ventional rates under her various COM
mercial conventions or most-favored-
nation treaties.
sponsibilities devolved on him by the
Payne-Aldrich act require from all coun-
tries a grant to the United States of
substantially their lowest tariff rates.
1t is a source of much qualification to
the President that Germany finds 1t pos
sible to extend to the United States her
complete minimum schedules without
reservation or qualification.
1.-The volume Of business passing direct
ly between the two countries Is now
this amount from $251. OUO.OOO in $780,
Spirit Was Friendly.
The statement goes on to say that the
solution reached was in a large measure
due to the friendly and conciliatory spirit
Of the German government. Both sides
recognized that while In the variety and
complexity of. modern commercial condi-
lions some points Of divergence between
two great commercial nations would be
encountered. their nature was not such as
to preclude an agreement which would
be beneficial In the mutual markets.
full conventional or lowest rates Ger
many will be accorded the minimum
tariff of the United States" the state
ment continues. This puts Germany
in the position of the most favored nation
IN her tariff relations with the United
States.
1.-THE maximum tariff Of the United
States which, as the basic tariff, would
otherwise apply after March 81. will,
therefore, not go into effect, the mini
mum being granted In return for Ger
many's full minimum rates. The re-
suit is to give to Germany the same as
surance under the United States tariff
law that she has secured by her treaties
with other countries.
I'm reaching a settlement some ques-
tons which had arisen regarding the
administrative features Of the Payne
Aldrich law and some misconceptions
as to q possible unfavorable treatment
of German imports into the United States
have been dispelled to the satisfaction
of the German government. A cOliat-
eral matter relating to the Interpretation
and application of the pure food law has
also been explained satisfactorily.