New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-29
|. S. ACTION in
GERMAN Oil CASE
Ambassador Gerard Pre-
Sents Memorandum TO
Foreign Minister.
HOPES INJUSTICE IN
BILL WILL DISAPPEAR
No Reply May Be Necessary, as
Measure in Present Form Is
Considered Dead.

OUNSiNClNN OSou.
berlin. March 2S-Formsl action by the
eoRea states government against the pc
: Nsn monopoly bill recently introduced
~s the German Imperial Parliament
6ss' y to-day with diplomatic courtesy
g .,,rAarst step taken was in the form OF
VxraSstten memorandum presented by
f, sossw Gerard. American Ambassador.
a -lss ,tieb Won Jsgow. the German For
81 y Minister. In this memorandum is
rCS,, ,led the confident expectation of the
% states government that certain in
, toward American investments con-
Led in the monopoly bill in its present
forn will disappear before enactment
he United States. il points out, has no
rsh either to intervene against Ger
,anys establishment Of an oil monopoly
r. 70 interfere with any price arrange
rsrt between the Standard Oil Company
,p5 the German government should such
!. under consideration. IL expects. how
,csr that American citizens who have in
rested capital in German enterprises
A. Instance. the Standard oil Company's
c.-var subsidiary concern-to be fully
,,s fairly compensated for all invest
,..,ts cancelled by the measure.
Goodwill Is Not Mentioned,
The bill provides for compensation be-
81 granted 10 the STANDARD Oil Company.
M only in respect Of the equipment Of Its
Wholesale business established before
March. 1912. within the customs limits.
Nothing Is provided in the case Of the re-
falling equipment which cost 100000
While the goodwill is not mentioned.
The German Foreign Minister did not
rsply TO the American memorandum. and
q is generally thought that he may be re-
rsved from doing so altogether. taking IN
view the present position Of the monopoly
bill
The parliamentary correspondent OF the
.7Seve Gesellschaftliche KoTespondenz'
voices the opinion widely held among
Members Of the Imperial Parliament and
N financial circles that the monopoly bill
IN its present form is dead or has at least
bsen shelved for a long time. The Social
lst members, he points out, made 1t con-
sitlon Of their assent that they should re-
eeive political concessions in regard 20 the
examination Of employees. The Clerical
partv is strongly opposed to the bill, and
50 are the anti-monopolistc elements
among the Radicals and Liberals.
Further Postponsrsnt Likely.
The committee in charge Of the bill
vas 10 have resumed its discussions this
week. but postponed tie debate until April
2S, and a further postponement is expect
ed even then
Fresh diplomatic action concerning the
petroleum question is expected TO be taken
IN the case Of the Pure Oil Company, of
Hamburg, 10 which permission was re-
fused 70 tender for government contracts
There is also the case Of the discrimina-
tory railroad rates granted in favor Of
German controlled oil imported from
GaIcia. whereas high rates are charged
for oil coming by sea to Germany by way
Of Hamburg
The 'Lokal Anzeiger" in an article OBJ
yiously inspired states that the American
protest was needless. as the measure con-
templates giving compensation for in
iringed foreign interests and includes an
appropriation for the purpose. There
fore &c adds. the government has no sym
pathy with the reduction Of the appropri-
alton made by the committee Of the I'm
perial Parliament, and hopes it will be re-
stored on the second reading OF the bill in
the interest Of Germsn-American rela-
tons.
Real Point Not Mentioned.
The article makes no mention Of the
real point al issue-namely, compensation
for the goodwill. the retailing plant and
other things rendered valueless by the
monopoly bill.
The other Berlin newspapers take II
for granted that the American protest is
directed generally against the proposed
I'll monopoly
The 'Vossschs Zeitung' and the
'Boerssn Zetung' express surprise that
me protest has been raised at this late
Gate, after the deliberations Of the pre-
esdng months
The "Boersen Courier" says there has
been no doubt from the first that the in
tgence OF the Standard Oil Company
would prevail with the United States gov
eminent, which is now attempting TO pre-
vent Germany from protecting effectively
rs economic interests. The newspaper
Complains that the United states, while
Sarring sharply against the trusts at
tome. is unwilling 10 allow Germany 10
Protect herself against the ruthless cam
Iagn of the Standard OIL Company. II
Expresses the hope that the German gov
Eminent will leave nothing lacking In
4 ,pntness and energy in its reply to the
.nited States and that II will maintain
right 10 settle its economic questions In
g own way.
4 COMIC ARTISTS EXHIBIT