New-York tribune., 1910-01-27
NO TARIFF WAR
WITH GERMANY
ONE WITH FRANCE
EXPECTED.
Negotiations 1cith Berlin GoU-
ernment Making Satisfactory
Progress Firm.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

lfrom me tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 26.-There will be no
tariff war with Germany unless all indi-
cations fail. The negotiations looking TO
an adjustment of the remaining differ
ences are proceeding favorabIy. and
point to an agreement whereby this
country will obtain Germanys minimum
tariff and grant the minimum tariff OF
the United States in return
Because of the somewhat delicate char
acter of these negotiations and the ne
cessity which has confronted the Tariff
Board of making the most of the points
in favor of the United States a widely
erroneous impression has gained circu-
lation- This is that the American negO-
tiators would cheerfully bring about
tariff war rather than make any conces-
sion inimical TO German Importation OF
American cattle on the hoof. A con-
Sistent effort has been made in these dis
patches to prevent the readers of The
Tribune from being misled. although it
has not been wise until now TO make
public the exact facts.
THE MEAT DISCRIMINATION.
Germany does unduly discriminate
against American live cattle. This fact
is now acknowledged by the German au-
thorities, and with the admission comes
the frank statement that because of the
political conditions-which means the
power of the Agrarian party-it is i'm
possible to waive that discrimination
Actuated solely by d purpose TO obtain
for American exporters the greatest pos
Si adX mt in r -I-a
it became the duty of the Tariff Board
first to obtain this admission and then
to utilize it TO the fullest extent. if not
to effect a waiver of the discrimination.
at least TO obtain concessions in other
directions which might consistently be
accepted as compensation. That policy
has been pursued. and the indications all
point to an agreement whereby the dis
elimination against American live cat
tie will be continued. but in return
therefor Germany's full conventional
tariff Will be applied to imports from this
country. The discrimination against
American cattle consists. 1t must be
understood. of certain sanitary regula-
tions. not of the imposition of an exces-
sive tariff.
responsibility for conducting the tariff
negotiations to lay their cards face up
ward on the table for the benefit of the
American public and of the German ne
gotiators has led TO the unwarranted
assumption that the Tariff Board pur-
posed to plunge this country into a
tariff war with Germany rather than
yield in the case of a single discrimina-
tior practised against branch of the
American export trade which is not and
in the nature of things. never can be-
come extensive The German press has
naturally emphasized the unimportance
of the cattle trade with view TO check
mating the efforts of the Tariff Board to
utilize that discrimination TO gain the
greatest possible concessions in other
directions.
MAY CONTINUE PRESENT STATUS.
The existing entente with Germany ex-
pires by limitation on February ..
Should no agreement be reached before
that time the German maximum tariff
would go into effect, and the Dingley
agreement on the part of the United
States would fall. The maximum duties
of the Payne tariff bill will not actually
become effective, however. until March
81. and the negotiators on both sides are
we'll aware that it would not be difficult
to effect an agreement continuing the
existing conditions until that date. De
spite press reports to the contrary. II
seems hardly probable that the German
Foreign Office would risk preiudicins an
ultimate satisfactory agreement while
the negotiations were still pending, and
it is therefore regarded as probable that
unless an agreement is reached by Feb
ruary { steps will be taken 20 continue
the status quo until the last of March
From what has been said it viii be
seen that too much Importance has been
attached TO the demand of the Tariff
Board that Germany waive its undue
discrimination against American live
cattle-a result iii part. no doubt. OF the
present high price of meats and the pop
ular indignation against the Beef Trust.
1t is worthy OF consideration. however.
that even should the German discrimina-
ton against live cattle be removed. the
Beef Trust, or the packing industry.
would be in no way benefited Any ben
eft which might result would obviously
go to the cattle raisers, who would thus
obtain at least a small demand for their
stock from a source uncontrolled by the
trust. IL is also obvious that any ap-
preciable curtailment of the demand FOR
live cattle must accrue to the benefit of
the packers. whose business it is 10
slaughter and dress and not to export
cattle on the hoof.
NO CONCESSIONS BY FRANCE.
A tariff war with France now seems
inevitable. The French government has
shown no disposition materially to miti-
gate that discrimination against Ameri-
can imports which constitutes an in
superable obstacle TO the imposition of
the minimum tariff on imports from
France. The diplomatic representatives
of that country. acting, no doubt. on in
structions from Paris. take the position
that this country imports from France
only luxuries, for which the American
consumers Will gladly pay any price In
order TO- obtain the French brands They
point out that chief among the Ameri-
can imports from France are wines
silks and lace, and complacently remark
that they have no fear that American