The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-20
CONTINUATION
OF THE
F Q r ElGN N e w S
BY THE
B r I T A N N I A,

Commons on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of
making upon it some brief observations 1t appears
to pregnant with instruction for all whose minds
have not been sealed up by bigotry, concerning the
course OF policy on commercial legislation which
England has lately pursued
CosrMERcIAL TREATIES.
"DR DowRINo begged now to put to the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head OF her Msjsstys Government the
question Of Which he had gwen nstice whether they had
any official knowledge OF q treaty between the United
States OF America and the German Zolverein Tor the
admission Of articles lower rates than il import
Cd from Great Britain other countries He had been
informed that treaty had been signed between the re
representatives. Of the German Commercial Union and the
Minister OF the United States which was founded upon
the principle of preferential duties between those two
countries He Understood that in consequence OF this
gagement the German States would permit the mpora
Of cotton WOOL and other articles from the United
States free Of duty and reciprocal advantages would be
granted by the United States imports from the States Of
the German Commercial Union. great advantage
would therefore, he given TO German British manu
features; and he begged to inquire whether the Right
Hon. Baronot cog.ant of the fact he had mentioned
which would exercise most preudical effect upon the
interests OF British Industry
SIR r. PEEL said the statement ofthe honorable
Der substantially correct treaty had been signed
between Prussia acting the part Of the Zollverei
and the representative OF the United States STIMULATING
low the example of the honorable member and say that
system of preerepa duties had been established-for
no did not wish to sanction new word u laugh indeed
against its adoption He believed the substance OF the
treaty had been fairly represented by the honorable gen
teman but he sr Pee begged to say that that treaty
had not yet been ratified IIo believed that in order to
give effect, it mad yet to receive the sanction Of the Ex
Government OF the United States, and OF two
thirds of the Senate
Mr. LApoucHrar sad he believed that pursuance Of
the terms of the treaties between the United and
this country the United States could not admit the pro-
auctions OF the Germanc League or indeed OF any couI
try into their deminons advantageous terms than
country admitted If he correct in this opinion
any reduction of duties made by the United States in
oil Pussian German manufactures must be equally ad
vantageous 10 the manufactures of this country.
Sir r. PsrL said the Government had already taken this
question into their consideration but AZ tho treaty TO
which the hon. member for Bolton (Dr Bowring) had I'D
verted not yet ratified perhaps would be better for
him not to enter into Details but 10 content himself with
stating that the had escaped attention. There
treaty in existence between this country and the
United States, by which stipulated that England
81 ~ IN o.
probably aware there were two kinds OF commercial trea
ties. Under class Of treaties it agreed by ma
ton that another should be put the footing OF the most
favored nations. without equivalent being given and
by another description Of treaties was provided that
favored nations, provided she made certain concessions
It treaty Of the former kind which existed between
this country and the United States.
We take this opportunity to repeat what we said
in the most emphatic terms we could command,
when the new Tariff was under consideration, in
the year 1872, viz That IT was sanguine folly, and
sothlng better, which induced persons to expect
that any relaxation of commercial restrictions by
england would seduce foreign countries into cor
responding concessions. The truth OF this opinion
Is speediy illustrated by the six uniriendy and re-
|
gated in the course of that year.
We believe the animating. principle which has
been at work 10 suggest and form the compact be-
tween Prussia and the United States, to which the
osgSng % . relates to Dc asss 81 d
En- gland !; and that this the strongest motive,
next to that OF promoting the individual interest Of
each of those respective states. II Is not little
curious to observe tnat Dr. BOwrlng, who was paid
Tor collecting materials tor those. delightful day
dreams of reciprocal intercourse between England
lad
should be the person who ehcits the information
which stamps the value of such illusions. With
Prussia we believe there is no such treaty as would
compel her TO admit English goods on the footing
of the most favored nations but with the United
States there is and therefore we imagine the treaty
Just concluded between these two states may never
be ratified by the legislature Of the latter Sir X.
Peel, it will be observed, cautiously avoided to
come in to the fattering speculation of Mr.. Labou
chere, which was, that the United States having
agreed to admit the manufactures OF Germany at d
ower scale OF duties, would by virtue OF the treaty
she has subsscing with England, be compelled to
admit British goods on the same terms as German
goods The United States will do no such thing,
unless she be induced to do at cost or sacrifice
which England is not likely to make. But this
Jew treaty between our most formidable COMPETE
tors In manufactures may, notwithstanding, lead to
embarrassing negotiations between England and
the United States.
Suppose the new Prussian treaty to he ratified
by the Congress of the United States, England, in
hat case, would forthwith demand Of her to admit
British goods on the same terms as German goods,
To this the Republican Statesman would demur,
md would probably plead the Ashburton treaty as
precedent which would exonerate them for re-
tuslng compliance. BY the third clause of tina,
treaty England stlpuates "hat all the produce Of
he forest in logs, lumber, timber, boards, slaves,
,r shingles, or OF agriculture, not being manuac.
ured, grown on any Of those parts OF the State OF
Maine watered by the River ST. John or by its tri-
| Dutaries, of which fact reasonable evidence shall
4 rem he hall hay frea ntf
and through the said river and its said tributaries
| having their source within the State of Maine, to
and from the seaport at the mouth Of the said
River ST. Johns, and to and round the falls of the
said river, either by boats, RATS, or other convey.
ance; that when within the Province of New Bruins
wick, the said produce shall be dealt with as if il
were the produce of the said Province" BY this
clause II will be said Lord Ashburton has conceded
the United States the right to call upon England
to receive, by virtue of the previously subslstng
| treaty OF commerce, the agricultural produce OF
every section of the United States into the province
Ut New Brunswick; and THAT when within the
| province OF New Brunswick the said produce shal
be dealt with if it were the produce OF the said
province" That is, according 10 the plain impor,
of the words, 1t may be sent to England, and there
claim TO be entered for consumption as the produce
| ct New Brunswick at the colonial rate of duties
There seems no meaning in the provision tn
have the produce OF any country adm tied on
The footing OF the most favored nation, if,
after having stipulated to receive the produce oil
one section OF a country, the whole of that country
| cannot demand the same privilege. II this case OF
admission to the produce of the State of Maine
were given Tor special purposes, and were intended
to be an exception to the rule which governs the
operation OF such treaty as we have with the Uni
ted States, the exception should have been ex-
pressly stated such in the Ashburton Treaty, that
no doubt might thereafter arise, and dsputation
be provoked on the ground of that treaty Seeing
what dexterous hands the Republican Statesmen
are at raising long diplomatic disputes 90 omissions
or misnterpretaton Of words, it will be our good
fortune it England be not drawn into embarrassing
negotiations this point and we can imagine
nothing more likely to produce them than such a
| treaty has been concluded between Prussia and
| the United States.
| There can be no doubt, from the guarded man
| ner with which Sir II. Peel treated Mr.. Labou-
cheres suggestion that the British Government per-
ceives and gravey appreciates these prospecively
| embarrassing circumstances. And the sooner our
Statesmen adopt the dlsagreeablc conclusion, that
foreign countries desirous of fostering their mamie