The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-30
BITTER TARIFF
 VAR Is PROMISED Between the United States and
 German Empire FRENCH AND GERMAN WINE Committees of Three Principal Race Courses In Germany Announce
 Programmes for the Year.
 Prizes s7,5oo,ooo.
FRENCH AND GERMAN WINE
BY STEVEN BURNETT.

Berlin, January 29.-(Special.) )-German- American relations are approaching some thing like a crisis. By February the Fa- theriand and the United States may be plunged into the turmols of bitter tar fir war. On that date the most favored nation modus vivendi, on which Ger man-American tariff relations have rest ed for twe years. will expire. Negotia- tions have been proceeding at Washing ton for months with a view of a new arrangement, which has been made nee essary by the passage of the new Amer ican tariff law. It was hoped in Berlin that simple understanding on the basis of both countries lowest rates would enable them to enjoy another period of economic peace and friendship.
 Matters, however, have been compli- cated by the insistence of America that its meat products, now excluded from Germany, shall be admitted on terms of equality with meats from, other coun- tries. The agrarian-dominated Reich stag will not listen to this demand and ment will find it difficult to accede to 1t. Unless America gives way or Germany surrenders, both nations fighting tar iffs' will automatically come into effect at midnight, February z, and the war will be on. The Kaiser had all this in his restless mind when he flashed his New Year salutations to President Taft and gave fresh vent to his enthusiasm for an entente with America
 The announcement that the Austrian government will construct a great new war harbor at Sebenico, on the Adriattc, creates the liyeliest interest in German naval quarters. It Is interpreted as di- rect reply to the recent reception of a French squadron In Antivari, to the transformation of which into free port Austria had to consent as one of the compensations for the annexation of Bosnia. Nothing can more vfvidly illum- tnate the nebulous state of affairs with in the triple alliance than the following comment in the Berlin "Lokalanzeiger," a paper with close official relations:
 For the Italian ally Of today the new war harbor of Sebenico is little warn ing for the future. It lies considerably farther south than the present war har- bor of Pola and nearer the main portion of Itaiys Adriatic coast. The Austrian navy notwithstanding its sniallness, compared with the fleets of the great powers, has always been known as one of the most effective. It's crews, recruited for the most part from the sea- faring Ordinations are as splendid as its intelligent and gallant corps of officers The Austrian war feet constitutes for it's ally therefore, a very valuable auxiliary to the greater German navy. This fact, and the contemplated strengthening or the Austrian navy. have already caused patriotic tremors in Italy and England
 Tn Ha rf gnfrft the Belgians insist that French, as well as German champagne shall be allowed to be sold in all parts of the Brussels exhi- bition of the present year, and conse- quentIy in that part of it set aside for German exhibits. The result is that the Union of German Champagne Growers refuse to exhibit, claiming, with show of reason that the German section of the exhibition should only contain exhibits exclusively German. They have an ad- ditional argument in the fact that at the famous Paris exhibition of 1900 only German champagne was allowed to be sold in the restaurants of the German pavilion and it's grounds The Germans however, appear to forget that the cham pagne consuming public in the German section of the exhibition at Brussels will not be composed wholly of Germans. and that there are likely to be as many French people clamoring for the wine of their country in all parts or lne e4niDitioh as Teutons.
 The champagne industry of Germany is, compared to that of France, its cradle and home, quite young, and though the Germans have plenty of cause to be proud of it, they are mis- taken if they suppose the wine to be, as they claim, the equal in quality of French champagne or at all as well liked by drinkers of that particular wine. The fact is obvious in Germany itself
 In Germany, if a host wishes to do the thing properly he will take good care to offer his guests French. not German champagne, and will see to It carefully that the duty stamp contain ing the words French product" is plainly visible to the naked eye. Ger man champagne may be sound stuff, but 1t Is strong and heady, and in all cases lacks the fine taste and evanes- cent qualities of the real French ar ticle.
 The quarrel between Bismarck and the present Kaiser on the matter is historical. Shortly before his fall Bis narck was dining with the Kaiser and German champagne was handed round. Bismarck refused 1t, and the Kaiser noticing the refusal asked the reason, adding that he thought it his duty as Kasier to encourage German -an. ~uuA - =