Baron von Thielmann to Mr. Sherman.
Washington, May 16, 1897.
Mr. Secretary of State: In my note of the 5th ultimo, relative to the duty on German sugar which was proposed in the Dingley bill, the receipt of which your excellency had the kindness to acknowledge [Page 177] Under date of the 7th ultimo, No. 206, Schedule E, was referred to by me as the one against whose provisions I had been instructed by the Imperial Government to protest on the ground of the treaties concluded by the United States with various German States. The Committee on Finance of the United States Senate has, meantime, made important changes in the original wording of the tariff bill, has eliminated from Schedule E the discriminating duty on sugar from countries which pay export bounties, and has introduced that discriminating duty, in a form which extends to goods of all kinds, into the new section 3.
I consequently have the honor, with a view to the prevention of misunderstandings, most respectfully to inform your excellency that the protest which I was instructed by the Imperial Government to make now naturally has reference to the contents of the new section 3, since in case the contents of the new section 3 should acquire the force of law, German goods would be obliged to pay a discriminating duty in addition to the ordinary duties.
I should be obliged to your excellency if you would have the kindness to bring this note, as you did that of the 5th ultimo, to the notice of the United States Senate.
Accept, etc.,