The fiscal strife with Russia was keener and longer, but had the same result (1894).

Of a friendlier kind were the negotiations with Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland, which led to treaties with those States in 1891.

It is needless to say that in each of these cases the lowering of the corn duties was sharply resisted by the German agrarians.

We may here add that the Anglo-German commercial treaty which expired in 1903 has been extended for two years; and that Germany's other commercial treaties were at the same time continued.
It is hazardous at present to venture on any definite judgment as to the measure of success attained by the German protectionist policy.
Protectionists always point to the prosperity of Germany as the crowning proof of its efficacy.

In one respect they are, perhaps, fully justified in so doing.