The Detroit times., 1910-01-25
GERMANY EXPECTS
FOUR TRADE WARS
Hostilities Impending With France,
Canada, and Portugal, as Well
as United States.

BERLIN, Jan. 25.-Germany's plan
OF campaign in the approaching tariff
host!iities with the United States was
thoroughly considered Monday at a
conference between the Imperial Ad-
vlsory Board OF Commercial Measures
and the representatives OF the gov
eminent. The board consists of emin;
ent captains OF industry, commerce.
finance, and agriculture. and on the
counsel the government receives
from these practical experts It's pro-
cedure with America will largely de-
pend.
In addition to the difficulties with
the United States, the board has been
called upon TO advise the government
with regard to impending tariff trouble
with France. Commercial relations
with Portugal an Canada are also In
a desperate condition, so that the
fatherland finds itself confronted by
the possibility of waging fiscal war
fare on four different and far-hung
fronts.
II Is the situation with America.
however, which causes the Kaiser's
government the gravest concern. Inc
utmost pessimism prevails in Official
quarters over the perilous status into
which Count Bernstorffs negotiations
with the state department have drift
ed. The Berlin authorities regard the
washington negotiations as wrecked
and realize that the hour has arrived
for decisive action in one direction OF
another.
The Anal blow to German hopes OF
nm American backdown on the meat
question was contained in President
rats proclamation announcing that
six certain European countries were
entitled to Americas minimum rates
because their own tariffs did not teno
to discriminate against American
Germany, along with France ana
Austria-Hungary, was conspicuously
missing from this white list.
Little Hope Of Peace.
Then Wilhelmstrasse knew the end
had come. Nothing now remains for
Germany to do under its laws but to
allow its maximum rates against
American imports TO go automatical-
lv into effect on Feb. 8. II In the re-
mote contingency that satisfactory as
surances arrive from Washington In
the meantime that our own maximum
tariff will not be enforced against
Germany on April /, this government
would probably ask the Reichstag 10
allow Feb. s TO pass without turning
ON the hghting tariff. The Kaiser
government, however, has quit reckon
inc on an American surrender, and'
unless the wholly unexpected nap
mems hostilities will open punctuaily
tuI.t
Americas stubborn insistence on
reneaI OF Germany's meat exclusion
laws has taken the Berlin govern
ment thoroughly by surprise. IL was
not believed here that washington
would esDouse the cause OF the pack
ing trust at the expense or a universal
tariff war with Germany and at the
risk of making the already uhpopu-
lar Aldrich-Payne law still more an
eyesore to the American people. Alter
America has had few weeks taste
of Germany's retaliatory tarin' hopes
are cherished here that the locAi
American factors above mentioned
will eventually force Messrs. Tart ana
Knox to yield and to conclude peace
with Germany on the basis or Wlth-
drawal of their demand for a repeal
of the meat laws.
Disinterested observers consider
this altitude on the part OF our Ger
man friends as an astute diplomatic
bluf. They are compelled TO put II
up by the Agrarian party, which rules
I'm Prussia and I'm Germany at the
present moment This gentry, which
represents exactly 2s per cent. OF the
present-day population OF the father
land. as against ~ per cent. engaged
in or dependent on industrial pur-
suits, has not the slightest com
junction about plunging Germany In