Daily globe., 1883-02-12
MEXICAN RECIPROCITY.
GEN. Grant TELLS HOW TF WLLL
PROVE IDT4NTIGEOUS.
Arguments That wiz Prove of Value to
Free Traders GeneralIy-The Way Both
Countries viii Benefit by the New Ar
rangement.

Mexican treaty:
reporter was sent yesterday to ask
Gen. Grant what the present condition and
outlook are for the reciprocity treaty with
Mexico negotiated by him with Romero
Mexican minister to Washington, and
General Laredo, the special commissioner
OF Mexico. sent to meet and confer with
Gen Grant, Prescott and Romero. Gen.
Grant said: Il see by the dispatches
from Washington city that while
the commercial treaty with Mexico is likely
to be reported favorably by the committee
having it in charge, it may meet with op-
position in the senate, from the fact that
it seems to leave it possible to ship sugar
from Havana to Mexico and reship it to
this country as if it were the product of
Mexican soil 1t may be possible such
shipments will be made from time to time,
but at great risk to the persons who
engage IN that business. precisely in the
same way as goods are now smuggled IN
from Cuba, and from Europe. Sooner or
later, however, they are detected, and par
ties engaged in the business are punished
by forfeiture and fine, and it is not proba-
BILE this business will be carried on sue
cessfully to any great extent, any more
than smuggling now is. In other words,
it is a question which concerns not the
treaty making power, but the administra
tion of the treasury.
''The treaty presents very great ad-
vantages for the United States and for
Mexico. AS they touch each other on the
frontiers and have similar institutions 1t
would seem necessary that the two
countries should enjoy most intimate re-
lations, but it is a we'll known fact, that,
for many years back, Mexico has been
sensitively afraid Of American encroach-
ments. Mexican suspicious of us are now,
in large degree, dispelled, as is shown by
their willingness to negotiate such
treaty as the one now before the senate.
The development of our railroads running
into Mexico, and the development in Mex
leo consequent upon the building of those
roads, and the increase of general business
and industry in Mexico must inevitably
make Mexico a large commercial country,
increasing in importance from year to year
in very rapid ratio, and if we fail now
to use this first opportunity
that we have had OF
cultiyating closer relations,
it is not only possible but very probable 1T
will be many years before we can effect
another opportunity of negotiating such
treaty with this ratified by both govern
ments. 1t may be assumed it will be pos
sible to make another treaty subsequently
which shall remedy any defect which may
be found in the working of this. Another
fOr iNafJnn ia the fact
that it has been and is now violently op-
posed by the European merchants and
agents residing in Mexico. Foreign mer-
chants there are an influential class, be-
cause they import pretty nearly all the
goods imported into the country, and con-
sequently, pay into the Mexican treasury
a large percentage of all the present reVe-
nues of that country. Their influence IS
increased by the fact that small retailers
are generally natives of the country, who
purchase their goods from these importers
on long credit, paying for them out OF
sales of goods. Consequently, as you see
these foreign merchants have great intiu-
ence both with the governing officials and
with enterprising Mexican dealers. They
are upon the spot to work against this
treaty, while We have no corresponding
class Of American citizens at present IN
that country to represent our side of the
question. The president of the republic,
however, and his cabinet have had the IN
dependence and, as I think, the good
sense, to accept this treaty as
il is now presented in our senate
and they accepted this, though they had
begun by being very strongly prejudlced
against making any commercial treaty
with the United States. [ know object
ions have been, or may be raised to the
treaty from the fact that there is nothing
in it which prohibits Mexico from making
similar treaties with other countries. 1t
would have been hardly fair for
the United States to have asked Mexico to
have restricted her own powers without
our restricting ourselves in some way, and
it is not probable any treaty could have
been ratified by the senate of the United
States, which contained clause prohibit
ing the United States from making treaty
like this or any other treaty with other
countries whenever it should seem proper
and advantageous to do 80. But it is nos
likely Mexico will consider similar treaty
with any European country, because there
is no European country can give
Mexico TIE market for her surplus
products that we can, and thsy are further
more remote from Mexico, and not neigh
bors as we are. This treaty, if it goes
INTO eiect. viii naturally bring the people
OF the ,txo republics closer together, but
it gives material advantages IL another
way to both of us. We receive from Mex
leo all the products which she is capable
of producing -unmanufactured artl-
cles, that IS twenty -eie MT
in number. Of these articles,
twenty are at present on our free list, and
six are articles which enter to greater or
less extent into our manufactures, and
which we do not p,oduce. There are but
two articles produced by US which are ad-
mitted free from Mexico under the treaty,
one crude sugar, and the other leaf to-
bacco. Taking the latter into considera-
ton frs., conceive the treaty would be
very advantageous to as, and
certainly very advantageous to Mexico, be-
cause under it we are only to receive
tobacco free from duty in its unmanufac-
tured state, and the tobacco which they
raise does not correspond at all to the ar
ticle raised by US, but is similar and equal
in quality 10 the tobacco raised in Cuba.
1t is to be presumed when Mexico raised
| enough of this tobacco to supply the mar