The Washington union., 1857-05-14
INDIRECT TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES WITT
FOREIGN COUNTRIES SWITZERLAND.


FOREIGN COUNTRIES SWITZERLAND.
The commerce between the United States and for
egn countries through the ports of third powers, or
the indirect trade with nations or States principally
that have but few or no sea-ports of their own,
amounts annually to at least $40 ,000, 900 Some of
our most costly and important imports enter into
this trade, and they consist chiefly, if not exclu-
siyely, of manufactures and articles Of luxury, they
contribute to the annual of our customs revenue
much more largely than the value Of imports
introduced in the direct trade from countries hay-
ing sea-ports of their own. Thus in 1855, of total
value of 800 949 566 imported into the United States
in the indirect trade free goods amounted to the
comparatively hifng figure of 1913 and out of $36,
$40 000 the amount in value of indirect trade in
1856, the sum of $62, ,412 only assigned to goods
entitled under the tariff Of 1916, to free entry. The
countries with which the indirect trade of the Uni
ted States is chiefly conducted are Switzerland, Prus-
sia, Saxony, Bavaria Wurtemburg, Baden, Hesse,
Saxe-Cobug- -Gotha, SAKE Wemar- Esenach Sake
Meiningen, Hanover, Brunswick, Oldenburg, Mas
sau, and the free city of Frankfort-on-the- Main.
In addition to these countries and States, with
which our indirect trade is, to great extent, a
geographical necessity it is rather an anomalous
fact that while we receive annually through the
ports of France the manufactures of Switzerland
amounting in value to about S4 900 ,000in 1856 the
actual sum was S., ,564 l73-we receive in like man
ner through the ports of England the manufactures
of France to an amount which in 1856 reached as
high as 81, 1891 661. OF this sum silk piece goods
covered $4 $50 397 We have, former occa-
dal RI aIn II,ya
ded system of restrictions and diferential duties
which still oppresses the commercial industry of
France, especially in its relations with the United
States and illustrated its runous effect even upon
the shipping interests of that empire itself by the
introduction of several claborately tables.
The very fact which we have just stated--namely,
that France sends her silks and brandies amounting
to over ST,000,00O year. to United States market
through the ports of England and also to the amount
Of 81 1884, 7lO through the port of Bremen--shonld
of itself awaken the attention of that government to
the subject, and induce thorough remodeling of
its complicated and almost incomprehensible system
of tariff legislation Under the provisions of our old
and stl-existing treaty of 1922 with France Brit
ish or Bremen vessel has an advantage of about 90
cents q ton, of registered tonnage, over American
vessels in the port of France, French vessels in
ports of the United States. The wonder is that the
indirect trade between France and the United States
is not much larger than it is.
But to return We have given the countries be-
tween which and the United States indirect trade is
the result Of geographical position The ports
through which these movements are chiefly con-
Quoted British, French Belgian, Dutch, and the
cities of Bremen and Hamburg
The following tabular statement exhibits the total
rect trade during the past year:
Imported from
VV,n Tn1 INF fbai inJr oJo q to1 or