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Show GERMANY. IS OFFISH. There is a good deal of opposition in Germany ' against the proposition for that empiro to take an interest in the Panama Canal Exposition at San Francisco. Fran-cisco. Germany appears unwilling to take any part iu it, and a recent conference con-ference between Secretary Bryan and the German Embassador in Washington Washing-ton developed the reasons for this reluctance. re-luctance. Secretary Bryan urged upon the German Embassador that the German Ger-man Government should join in the celebration, without much success. Afterwards the Embassador called at the White House, whore President Wilson Wil-son impressed the same views upon him, urging that the German Government Govern-ment should participate. But still Count von Bernstorff, speaking for his government, showed reluctance to taking, tak-ing, any practical interest in the exposition. expo-sition. This reluctance is based upon such a variety of causes as to create a serious obstacle iu the way of German participation. partici-pation. The commercial interests of Germany are practically united in op-positiou op-positiou to any exhibit at San Francisco. Fran-cisco. Tho iron and stool industries are actively opposed to it. These business busi-ness interests say that thore have been loo many expositions already, and that there is no use spending money in exhibiting ex-hibiting at San Francisco. German financialdom insists that it must know what Congress and President Wilson arc going to do about the obnoxious measures proposed in the new tariff bill before the question of taking part in the exposition enn be decided. The Germans object to' tho valuation clause; to the inquiry as to the cost of foreign products, and the real value that ought to be put in the invoices; and also, to tho provision of a reduction reduc-tion of o per cent on all goods brought to the United States iu American bottoms.- Part of theso objections will undoubtedly un-doubtedly be removed. The provision for 5 per cent reduction in the tariff on goods brought in in American ships is practically out of tne bill already, for it is a clear violation of all of our commercial treaties with European countries. The inquisition into the books of foreign corporations, so as to ascertain tho real cost of the production, produc-tion, will also be stricken out of the bill. But the provision for the actual valuation of the goods on their import or their withdrawal from the bonded warehouse, is something that cannot be waived. If it wero, there would be interminable disputes about the value of the goods imported; nnd since the duties mposed in the new bill are chief ly "ad valorem duties, the valua tion is the important matter in all imports. im-ports. Tho point that a fixed or official offi-cial valuation must be placed on all imports cannot be waived. But the Gormans insist, that they will uot take any part in the exposition until they see tho final form of tho bill, and not then, if it is not satisfactory to them. It is held in Washington that both Germany and Great Britain are in a position where they will have to be induced in-duced by some defiuito means, or concessions, con-cessions, on the part of tho United States to join iu the San Francisco exposition. ex-position. Russia will refuse to join becauso of the abdication of tho commercial treaty of .1832, and of the general handling han-dling by this country of the Jewish passport question. Franco is tho only ono of the great commercial powers of Europe which has formally accepted tho invitation to participate in the San Francisco canal exposition of 19 In. In spite of the fact that tho United States sent a commission of officials to present pre-sent the American invitation to the governments of Europe, to take part in it, resentment against tho United States is quito general among these governments, partly on account of the tariff bill and partly because of the smart of American competition, agricultural agri-cultural and mechanical, which tho European Eu-ropean people do not know how to meet; and so their governments sulk. They also remind Americans that the Government of the United Slates seldom sel-dom appropriates any money for participation par-ticipation in expositions in other countries. coun-tries. Aud so, any thought that we might havo indulged in about their governments making expenditures for participating in American expositions, they claim is not consistent. Tho most of Europe is in a sulk with respect to this exposition for ono cause or another; but the proposed tariff, which was expected to be so favorable to European interests, is not meeting the desires of theso interests, and the canal exposition is accordingly likel' to be put, to a large extent, undor the European ban. |