The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-02-04
UNITED STATES AND GERMANY
COME TO SATISFACTORY
UNDERSTANDING.
BUT ONE ISSUE REMAINS
American Minimum Rates viii Be Ex-
changed for the Entire Minimum
List Of Germany-Cattle and Dressed
Meat Question Remains - Be Ad.
iusted at Another Conference.

Washington. Feb. 3.-Conctssions by
both the United states and Germany
have avcrtod threatened tariff war
Negotiations have been concluded he.
tween the two countries which settle
the question of minimum and maxi
mum rates with the exception of tho
cattle and dressed meat issue. This
was eliminated from the present ne'
gotiations and will he taken up later
in separate diplomatic representation
Under the agreemen, made today
American minimum rates VIII be ex'
changed for the entire minimum lis
of Germany. The result is considered
. advantageous to both countries. Th'
state department today issued n state
ment in part as follows:
by the understanding arrived at
there will be no tariff war and NJ
interruption of the enormous commerce
passing between the two countries
The magnitude of this business ap.
pears from the statement that In the
calendar year just closed the direct
interchange of commodities between
Germany and the United states ex.
cecded 100000, ,000 and. allowances be
Ing made for German importationi
through other countries. the actua
volume Is probably in excess of $500,
100000.
Products of the United States vii
be assured the fullest opportunity Il
participate In the constantly growing
business OF the German empire. Thi.
will he done on n complete equalit,
with the competing products OF othel
countries. BY the terms of the com
merclnl agreement which has been II
force since 1907. Germany extended Il
the United States hce conventional ol
lowest rate on about 100 out of nearl,
1000 tariff numbers. These 100 mum
bcrs covered large percentage. I,
value. of the actual imports from thu
United states. but. nevertheless. lef
many important commodities of Amer
lean manufacture Mt disadvantage
in competition with similar products
from other countries.
Earnest Desire.
!
1t was the earnest desire OF the Ger
man government to reach n solution
of the questions at issue so that tn
necessary legislation might be enacted
TO prevent any disturbance of exstln,
commercial relations. The presiden
fully reciprocated this sentiment. II
consequence of the friendly disposition
of both governments. an agreemen
has been reached under which Ii vii
bc possible for tho German govern
ment with the cooperation Of the i'm
perial parliament to avoid any inter
ription Of trade and at the same tim
To extend 10 the United States no
only the rates at present enjoyed. bu
the entire remaining schedules Of min
imum rates now accorded other coun
tries.
The basis of settlement Is that Ger
many grants to the United States he
fun conventional tariff rates in return
for the minimum tariff Of the Unite,
states. This Is an exchange of mini
mum for minimum. 1t places tn
United States on exactly the sam
terms as all other countries to whicl
under her various commercial conven
tions or most favored nations treaties
In the presidents opinion, responsi
bllty dcyolved upon him by the Payne
Aldrich act require him to demand al
agreement from all countries to gran
to the United states substantially thel
lowest rates. 1t Is a source of muc
gratlfcatlon to the president tina
Germany finds II possible to extend t
the United states her complete mini
mum schedules without reservation o
qualification.
Favored Nation.
The statement says the solutlo
was largely due to the concllator
spirit of the German government" Bot
sides recognized that, while som
points of divergence between the tw
nations would be encountered, thei
nature was not such as to preclud
an agreement that would be beneficial
In mutual markets. In return for tn
concession of her full conventional 0
lowest rates. Germany will be accord
ed the minimum tariff Of the Unite
States" the statement continue.
This puts Germany in the positio
of the most favored nation in he
tariff relations with the United State.
The maximum tariff Of the Unite
States. which as the basic tariff. woul
otherwise apply after March 81. wi
therefore not go into effect the mini
mum being granted in return for Gei
many's full minimum rates. The re
suit is to give Germany the same as
surance under the United states larii