New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-25
TELLS OF POTASH DISPUTE
German Syndicate Says 1t Is MOI
international One.

A Vorel. general representative IN V'hs
,,o,,,,yv ~ the German Potash Synd cate
has issued pamphlet. prepared AT '"o
ou.st OF President Taft and Secretary
Knox. giving the syndicate's slde VI W..
so-caned potash controversy winch ."'
recently become a subject OF discussi'H
,u.aor tho American and German govern
,,a,,s The statement describes the pres
ent situation. and presents arguments -
support of the view that interference -
the United states government would not 10
justified. sovs
The German Empire the statement says
has a natural monopoly OF potash a. p'"0
,icallv all Of the worlds known potash
sources are within it's territory ana WIN"
lie control About 1880 there was ioi"ieu
voluntary association OF all OF Tue mn
Owners. known as the Potash S!hoi0a'''
the agreement being renewed whehe\e' -
association expired by lapse OF t'inc'
chief executive officer OF the associa''o"
was always the appointee OF the fruSS''i
government. , -.
rho sollstedt Potash Works, owned oy
Herman Schmidtmann, entered the po'a'"
mining Industry in 1895 Mr.. schiniu'ii'fSll'
and his son. Waldemar Schmiol"''i,''
ouned also A controlling interest IN mo
Ascherslehen Works, long member OF 'he
.,,aicate. The Sollstedt Works dechneo
m ,oin the syndicate. The statement ue-
.,-;hes the contracts made by that concern
Nth large number OF independent iei-
,,,izer manufacturers in the United STATES
sornc of them already under exclusive
,o,,racts with the syndicate, tho resuItius
,,,,hl,c agitation in Germany, which cuI'hl-
,a,ed in the enactment in 1890 of the Prus-
stan mining law. and the entrance VI ''0
Soustedt Works into the syndicate
The nolicv Of the Aschersleoen ana son
I,orLs vas criticised. and when the
syndicate was renewed in july. 1893, for the
wear 1910 the two were not incluoeo' D0
coming evident that they would not Voluh-
tsrily respect the national rohcles LOT pro-
tectius the industry the German Faii
roent passed the potash Law, regulating t"e
disnosition Of potash by German mine OWL
.rs until the end Of 1895 Tie law does not.
the statement says, restrict the quanuty Oh
no,ash exported 70 the United states pu'
merely limits the fraction OF each year
total exports which each mine owner may
contribute. 4 small tax Is levied on al
owners and a heavy surtaX Is imposed
upon owners who dispose OF more IMAM
their allotted quantity.
The sollstedt's allotment for 1910 Is ano"I
5000 tons. whereas its various contracts
call for the delivery OF 5000 tons, and tho
Aschersleben contract with the American
Agricultural Chemical Company calls LOT
- 000 tons. the allotment being only ABOUT
900 tons on the surplus above their
ouotas the two works must pay the sur
tax Of s. s. a ton.
The statement says that the American
protest against the potash law comes only
from middlemen who hold contracts win
the Sollstedt or Ascherslehcn works unoef
which the sellers claim reimbursement from
the BUYERS for the amount Of the surtaX'
Tho buyers. It continues. insist that they
are not bound to make reimbursement
and Il adds that the question as TO con-
fractusi liability is an ordinary question
81 contract Law, 10 be decided in the usual
manner by any court having the necessary
Jurisdiction. and that the case cannot prop
erlv be carried within the realm OF inter
rational affairs