The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-24
Change of signal i'm Boston Marbor.
THE MEXICAN TRFATY.
General Grants Letter-He Denies any
Private Interest i'm the Treaty.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-General Grant has
sent the following letter to the Evening
Star relative to the pending Mexican treaty:
To the Editor of the Washington Evening
Star:
In your issue of Saturday, headed "The
Mexican Treaty, the Senate declines to ratify
itsat present." find the following paragraph:
WHY soME SENATORS VOTED AGAINST 1T.
A member of Congress said to Star Reporter
today "Ihere were some votes, several of them
least cast against the Mexican treaty in the Sem
ate for this reason; You see Grant and Romero
were partners in Mexico, and they obtained some
large concessions from that government in relation
TO railroad and steamboat lines. Now Grant is the
United states commissioner and Romero the Mexi-
can commissioner, and both of them were exceed
ingly anxious to have the treaty ratified. 1t was
suspected-and really can't say it was more than
q suspicion-that these two men, partners in busi-
ness had big private interests in that treaty, that
1t would aid them in developing the monopolies
they want, and ss no real good could be discovered
In the treaty, nothing patent enough to outweigh
this suspicion, why several Senators, whom know
Of concluded that the safest plan would be to vote
against 1t"
were partners in Mexico, and that they Oh
tanned some large concessions from that gov
eminent in relation to railroad and steamboat
lines" is wholly without foundation. Romero
and myself never had, in oCr lives, any pecun-
iary transactions or business transactions OF
sion OF Macmillan from Mexico, there has
been o warm sympathy between Mr.. Romero
and myself, our views being coincdent ss to
the relations that ought to exist between Mex
leo and the United States. We have both de-
voted much time to bringing about more inti-
mate relations between the two Republics and
entirely gratuitously on our own pare. 1 my.
self have no pecuniary interest in any part OF
the improvements which are taking place in
Mexico with American capital.
Do, MT =
anything. We have neither of us any interest
or certainly not any more interest, in the rat
ification of that treaty than any other private
citazen of my country. believe its ratifica'
tion would be great step toward establishing
those relations between the two continguoul
republics which ought to exist and which
would be of mutual advantage.
In reply to the argument which has been
advanced against the treaty that Cuba sugsl
could be shipped to Mexico and reshipped, fre'
of duty, TO this county, Grant says:
There are two answers to that objection tx
the 3reaty, either OF which is itself conclusive
as against that objection. First, Mexico has
higher tariff upon sugar than the United State
has, and they have no provision in their Law
for the rebate of duties where imported article
are re-exported. Second. a conclusive answe
is that it is only crude sugar which is admitte
free under the treaty, and the difference be
tween Cuban raw kngar and Mexican ra'
sugar is SO great that it would not even requir
an expert TO tell the dlnerence between the1
by "feer' alone, if he was blindfolded.
In conclusion General Grant says:
While have spent thousands of dollars Q
my own money and great deal of time to ad
vancs the development of Mexico by Unite
States capital and American influence, / hav
not one dollars interest in all that has bee
done and no pecuniary interest whatever in th
country except that am one of the subscriber
60 railroad which lies wholly to the south {
the City OF Mexico, and the success of which
very doubtful in these times when it is so diff
cult to raise capital for such enterprises. Their
is no steamboat charter or other monopoly i
which have tho slightest pecuniary interest
My whole interest is in developing those reli
tions which believe ought to exist betwee
contiguous countries, and particularly those {
like institutiaus, and in the case of Mexico
think it more important because of her gres
undeyeloped resources which must make he
soon commercial State of very great impo
tance. U. s. GRANT.