7 JUNE 1902, Page 2

The German Chancellor is greatly troubled just now by the

question of abolishing bounties on sugar. The Government agreed formally to that abolition, which will save it millions a year, and constitutionally it has full power to make any agree- ment with foreign Powers ; but questions involving taxation have always been left to the Reichstag, and the Agrarians threaten to refuse the vote. As the next Budget will show a heavy deficit caused by expenditure on the Navy, Count von Billow is almost at their mercy, and in his despair he is trying to gain time. The Government in vain points out that if the Brussels Convention is upset its power of negotiating with foreign States will be seriously impaired, and in vain also declares that Great Britain in its wrath will put a counter- vailing duty on sugar. The Agrarians reply that they should like a war of tariffs with Great Britain very much, and the Government is driven to threaten that if beaten it will dis- solve. It is difficult to see how the contest will end, but not difficult to see that if it is not ended Count von Billow's term of service will not be long. William II. requires of his ser- vants, if not implicit obedience, at least that they should succeed.