Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-19

Having thus placed, as he hopess IN ciear
liz ht the general principles OF Colonial trade, and
the principles and consultations upon which
Great Britain has acted in respect TO her own
w est India Colonies, the undersigned now proceeds
10 consider the details Of AIR. Gallsiin's note OF
the Goth of August.
/, has been already said that in the year 1922,
we opened, by act of Parliament, trade with our
Yves, India Colonies 10 American ships, undes
certain limitations and conditions
The United States were AT iuil liberty TO accept
or TO decline those terms.
In accepting them the United States imposed
at the same tiue charges and restrictions
upon all British vessels which might trade between
the British West India Colonies and the United
States. One of these charges is an alden duty
both upon the ship and upon her cargo.
After Intellectual endeavors, ON our part 10 Oh
tain the removal OF this duty, we were compelled
to lay IA coun,ervailing duty TO the same amount
upon American ships in tie Colonial ports.
MIR. Gallatin states, +" that by the imposition OF
this countervang duty, British and American YES
sells, employed in the intercourse between the
British Colonies and the United States, are placed
on a footing of the most perfect eqaafity
And further " that there is not, II he Is righ'iy
informed, single All of the Government OF tie
United States which can, in the view taken OF
the subiec, by that of His Msjs-ty, be Goa
sidered as not fulfilling the condition contemplated
By the &C, of Parliament of the 9th July, 1922, as
not placing the commerce and Navigation oil
Great Britain, ard OF her possessions abroad Upon
the footing of tie most tarOured nation, ex
ceptng only the conlinusoce OF the discriminating
tonnage duty of ninety-tour cents per ton on bfi-
fish vessels and of the addition OF ten per cent. on
the ordinary duty charged on goods imported IN
British vessels entering the ports OF Tie U. states
from the British Colonies"
The arguments drawn by Mr.. Gallatin from
these statements are three: first, that the day on
the side of the United States, and the couutervai-
ing duty on the side Of Great Britain being equal,
British ships trading between the colonies and the
United States. are as much favoured as American
ship. in the same trade: secondly, that, inasmuch
as, with the exception OF the discriminating outes
in America Great Br'ani is, an all other reSpectS'
treated As the most favoured naton, there 10 no
Just cause for the exercise, on the part OF Srea'
Britain, of the power OF Introduction provided by
the act of 1872: and, thirdly, that, having In our
hands tlcO remedies for one ana the same S'iev-
ance, we ought at all events, 10 have coh'eh,eu
Ourselves with applying either, bat not both, oy
the same Order in Council.
To begin with the last of.these three points
viz: the assumption that, having III our hands
tirO remedies for one grievance, we ought 10 nave
been contened with applying Either. oat MOI oo'h'
10y the Order in Council"
The only measure which is nerD in the Order in
Council, is the Introduction OF the trade between
the British West Iadia Colonies and the United
States, sitter specified period. The duties on A
mercan shipping, mentioned in that order, are not
nev. They were imposed by an Order In Coun-
Gil, in 1923, and have been constantly levied since
that time. rhey again mentioned In the pre-
sen, Order in Council, only for the direction OF the
British Custom House officers in the West Indies,
who, if those duties had not been mentioned as
still existing, might have imagined them to be SUI
perSe,i,d.
The history Of these duties is simply this. Ga
the first of March, 1928, law vas passed by the
United States, which directs an alien duty to be
levied upon British ships and csrsoes coming IRON
the British West India Colonies, " until proof
shall De given TO he satisfaction OF the President
OF the u. States, that 10 other or higher duties OF
tonnage impost and no other charges oil any Kinu'
arc exacied IN lie British colonial ports. upon the
vessels Of the L. s. and upon any goods, ioaTeS,
or merchandise, therein imported from The u.
States than upon British vessels ieTing the same
ports, and upon The like goods ,Dares, and n'e'-
chaa9ise imported IL, such CeSSels FRoI ELSE :
WHERE"
The British Gov ernncni. at first, misapprehe"d,
cd The import Uf the term J'0m t!SeDhefe'
ccnceivins it to spply 10 foreign counties ''ohe'
and uot 20 British possessions IN No'th America
nor was til after the interchange OF several oil
fetal notes between the British Envoy at w ASH
ing,on, and the American Secretary OF State, that
the British Government was made 10 comprehend,
Cor rather was btoasht believe) the Toll extent
of the concession required by the act OF Congress
namely, that the produce OF The u. States, when
imporied from tie United States, into the BRUSH
Vest India Colonies, SHOULD be placed on an equal
footing with The like produce OF the mother c0u'l
ny herseLf and her Dependencies.
When such was at length ascefialned TO be the
true construction Of the American act ct Con-
y,ess of 1895 those countervailipg duties were
imposed on the trade Of the United States by the
British Government, which are now merely con-
tinued TIL the LIST Of December next, IN The w e.'
Indies and indefinitely in the ports OF DIitish
North Amcrica :,
1t is to be obsers ed tn by the act OF Parila-
ment, Of 1922 O. Geo. w cap 4i) The british
Government was enabled 10 iateJdiet all inter
course between the United States and the Bri-
,ish West India Colonies, under any such clfcum-
stances rs those which had arisen already IN the
United States
The miller measure OF retaliatory duty was
rrelerred for two reasons: First, we were con-
WINGED that a claim so extraordinary as that put
forward by the Interpretation given 10 the ACT OIL
Congress, of 1928, would not be persevered In al
ter explanation; and, secondly, we had assurance
that full opportunity of that explanation would
arise in the of the negotiation when was then
about to be opened between the two Governments
on this, among other points, IN winch 'heir res
pec,ive interests were concerned.
That negotiation took place in Lendon, IN the
Spring OF 1924. On the part OF the British Gov
eminent an offer was made to arrange this matter
upon terms highly favorable to the United States,
but tue American Plenipoten,ary intfenched h'm.
.eli within tie letter oil the American law, anu
declared any proposal iradmissbIe which was mol
accompanied with the concession required ~ 1he
final Interpretation OF that Law.
ia