The Washington herald., 1910-11-07
TARIFF WAR COMING
Our Relations with Germany
Reach Acute Stage.
FIRM ON POTASH QUESTION
Rejection of Proposals Made by
American Interests Brings Situa-
tiOn TO Head and State Department
VIII Decide What Constitutes I'm
due Discrimination.

Unless Germany recedes from its posi-
ton on the potash question. a tariff war
Is apparently inevitable in the opinion OF
government officials.
The rejection of the proposals made
by representatives of American potash
interests by the German potash syndi-
cate. which is upheld by the German
foreign office, has brought the CONNER
cial relations to an acute stage.
While no officiak report has been re-
ceived at the State Department from
Mack II. Davis. commercial expert of the
Bureau or Trade Relations who is now
in Berlin, il is expected that a complete
one will be received from Ambassador
lin al Berlin within the next few weeks.
Secretary Knox will return 10 Washing
ton the latter part Of next week, and
State Department officers Will immediate
~ make a full study OF the situation.
President May Interfere.
In the event that the officers OF the
State Department and the tariff board
decide that the action OF the German
government constitutes an undue dis
elimination, President Taft will be re-
quested TO issue an executive order re-
voking the benefit of the minimum rates
OF the Payne-Ald-ich tariff law, which
German products have received since last
winter. The volume Of trade between
the United States and Germany amounts
10 several hundred million dollars an
nually.
The potash question is important to
American consumers because of the fact
that it is the principal ingredient Of fer
tillzer for cotton, tobacco, and the grains
Under the new German potash law the
price 20 American purchasers has risen
from 5000 per ton to S34 per ton. in spite
OF the fact that the American potash in
terests have contracts with the German
syndicate by which the price Of potash
is fixed at $50 per ton.
Germany is the chief source of supply
of this important article. The United
States buys one-half OF all that Germany
EFFORTS.
The potash question however. is not
the only question upon which the State
Department has had difficulty with the
German government. Several months ago
the Ottoman American Development
Company, an American concern, applied
70 the Turkish government for railway
and mining concession in Asia Minor
The company had the diplomatic sup
port Of Secretary Knox. The German
government. however, attempted 10 block
the entrance of the American concern
into that region, and instructed its diplO-
matte representative at ConstHntinople TO
protest against the granting Of the con
cession.
Had No Objection.
As soon as Secretary Knox heard OF
the German opposition he instructed Am
bassador Hill 10 ask the German foreign
Office 10 reconsider its attitude. In reply
the German foreign office assured Mr..
Knox that il had no objection. provided
German interests were not injured.
Before leaving his post at CONSTANT
nople, several weeks ago, Oscar S. Straus.
American Ambassador 10 Turkey, OBJ
tanned the approval OF the Turkish gov
eminent The Ottoman minister of pub
lie works and the council of ministers
have approved the proposed concession.
II Is now pending before the Turkish
Parliament.
Huntington Wilson, Assistant Secretary
OF State. who is now IN Constantinople.
may also discuss the proposed cOnces-
sion with the officers Of the Turkish gov