THE GERMAN TAIUFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7233, 21 October 1901, Page 1

THE GERMAN TAIUFF.

The Vienna correspondent' of the " Sydney Morning Herald," ; writing on August 28/ said:— •, „ ' ■ ; ; The publication of the proposed German Customs Tariff' Bill has caused intense excitement on the entire Continent, but most of all in Austria-Hungary, Germany's ally. For should the new German tariff become law it would make it impossible any longei to export to the German Empire the most important articles with which AustriaHungary, Italy, and Russia now supply it. The Bill provides for a so-called maximum and 1 a minimum tariff. The minimum tariff is one below which the German Government will not go in its commercial treaties with other countries/ a tariff than which it will not allow a lower one for agricultural or any other produce. The maximum tariff is simply a .prohibitive one, a threat to those countries which will nob conclude a commercial treaty with Germany, so high that importation into Germany will be rendered impossible. But the great objection in all Europe is that even the minimum tariff is so higli that it disturbs the possibility of friendly commercial intercourse with Germany ; and that it is too high to serve as a basis on which to negotiate commercial treaties. The losers would, in the first place, be Germany's allies, Austria-Hungary and ftaly. • , The fifth part of all the barley, cattle, swine, wood, poultry,, meat, butter and eggs exported by Austria goes to Germany, as doss likewise" half of Italy's exports i« the way of fruits, wine, and vegetables. Russia supplies it with wheat and rye. In their commercial treaties of 1892 those cotintriesimade;cbnsiderable :cbnc€Sßionß to German industry, and thanks to this fact the development joi that industry was greater than any, ever made by any other industry in Europe. All this is to be sacrificed to the agrarian party, a small body of German landowners an d N high Tories. Already in the countries threatened has been raised the cry " Better no commercial treaty with Germany than one that does not do any good to our agricultural produce, and which damages our industry." But the stir created by the Tariff Bill and the opposition to it are still greater in Germany itself. '* . The bulk of the nation is against a measure that would make the workman's food dearer, whereas he has no prospect qf higher wages, as it is generally believed that German industry has passed its climax. In that country the cry is "We shall lose our markets and very likely lose also our political allies," as in the longi run political amity does not go with commercial warfare. As for Austria-Hungary, the proposed tariff is helping to allay the minor quarrels with Hungary. The tariff policy in Europe having become so uncertain, both halves of this monarchy the more clearly see how they depend on each other economically, and that first of ajl they must be in accord between themselves if they are to successfully fight for a fair commercial treaty with Germany. In fact, the immediate consequence of the German Tariff Bill was that delegates of the Austrian and Hungai'ian Ministries met to negotiate concerning the Custpras Union which, is part of the Ausgleiclr or General Union between Austria and Hungary. This union, as is known, at present is only a provisional one. the Austria^ Parliament having been prevented fi-fjm giving its sanction owing to obstruction during the last three years. {since last spring Pai'liament has again been working, and the Ausgleich is to be passed in the constitutional way. Also now the agreement meets with great, difficulties, but the common danger in the shape of the nev German tariff, will surely accelerate bringing about the Ausgleich.