The New York herald., 1878-11-20
OUR TRADE WITH MEXICO.

MINISTER FOSTER ON THE COMMERCIAL coNDI-
ZION OF QUE SISTER REPUBLIC PROSPECTS
Eon AN AMERICAN MARKET WITHIN HER BoR-
DKas.
WAsHrNGroN, Nov. 19 1878.
Mr. John G. Foster. United States Minister to
Mexico. in response to request from the Manufac-
turers Association Of the Northwest. has prepared
and sent 70 the State Department . very elaborate
paper to be transmitted to the above named assoca-
ton. giving the results Of careful study made by
him concerning tho prospects and available means for
an extension Of our commerce with Mexico. This
papor embraces three sui uhjects:-
Firt-Ihe means Of communication and prospects
OF railroad connection with tho city of Mexico He
shows that our government do something toward
tho Improvement OF communication with Mexico bv
steamships but that without an railroad
to the capital considerable trade be maintained
Under this head he aims to establish tho following
points, fsaH
to any treaty stipulation other international agree
ment for the joint protection of such road and that
1t requires all the employees and the capital Of the
company formed for that purpose to become Mexican
for all purposes Of the enterprise.
That the last Congress positively refused grant
q charter tor an American company. The present
Congress has manifested the same opposition
3. That the Mexican government, owing to its
financial condition. is absolutely unable to pay any
subsidy for tho construction Of the road
TAHITF AND TRADE REGULATIONS.
The second subject discussed covers the tariff and
that on many important articles desirable to intro
duce from the United states the tariff is prohbtory
and on most others 1t renders them luAurics with
very limited population consumers. Interior tiu-
ties deprecated currency heavy rates of exchange
long credits &c. mentioned by Mr.. Foster pre-
senting great obstacles to American trade.
In the remainder of the paper Minister Foster sets
forth that the revolutionary condition Of Mexico has
in the first place impoverished the country to such
extent to render it impossible to sustain longer
foreign trade; secondly, caused such general inse-
curty aud disorder render life and property I'M
ND trada a.,
lent as to completely unscs.ic honest commerce..
THE FOREIGN MERCHANTS.
In the course of his paper Mr.. Foster remarks that
English merchants have almost completely with
drawn from Mexico, for much the same reason that
Americans cannot or do not enter it. There is not
one English house in the port of Vera Cruz and not
more than six in the entire Republic. Tho import
trade is principally in the hands of the Germans and
Spaniarls--mainly the former. II Germans, in Mi.
Fosters opinion, have fnirly ned their prom
incnce BY many years of patient study of tho
The Hamburg merchants establish their branc hes in
various parts of Mexico and send their educated
youths out to serve apprenticeship In tho business
and afterward assume the management of the branch
houses. They become thoroughly familiar with the
condition and practices OF the country and
the intricacies of the tariff and interior duties
Revolutions and changes Of government do not
disturb their cquanimity. They becomeasrustomcd
to forced loans" aud extraordinary contributions
Notwithstanding the Irregularities of the Custom
House officials and the emharrassmcnts of the contra
band trade, they keep the tenor of their way
and usually, though not always, in middle ad-
vanced life able to go back to Germany with a
competence. If the American merchants are willing
pursue the policy and subject themselves to
the same annoyances Mr.. Foster doubts not they will
succeed likewise
LIMITED FIELD FOR AMERICANS.
Mr.. Foster thinks it probable that until the above
Indicated obstacles to large trade with Mexico
removed our merchants will, general thing con-
tinue to find more inviting markets beyond the Equa
tor and the opposite side OF the globe but he
serts nevertheless that there limited fold which
may be occupied by American merchants and manu-
tacturcrs. He says:-
The Mexican free list enables them to import en-
gines machinery and agricultural implements, and to
the extent that these used importers
cessfully compete with those Of Europe.
careful examination of tine Mexican tariff will re-
veal articles which may be introduced with
proft and the goods which, owing to high duties
and charges become Injuries in this market can be
sold to limited extent and regard it as entirely
feasible and safe for American manufacturers
tinuc their efforts in kindred branches aud establish
in this city warehouses for the exhibition and sale Of
the products of their factories. In this way the local
merchants and consumers will have practical dis
play OF the superior merits of American goods and
wares and their sale be gradually increased and
permanent market created