The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-03
CHILI'S BLUNT PRESIDENT.
Frigid Reception Of the South American
Trade Commission at Santiago.
Chilli Sells Where She Gets the Best Prices
and Buys in the Cheapest Markets, and
We Can Trade with Her if We Like.

WAsHINGToN, July 2-The South American
commission, under date of Santiago, May q,
have made their visit to Chilli. The commission
reached Valparaiso May s. The report says
valparaiso is almost an English colony. The
English language is used almost exclusively in
trade; and the trading merchants are subjects of
Great Britain, there. being but three distinct
American houses in the place"
The report describes the meeting of the Pres
ident of Chilli by the commission, and says a
series Of propositions were submitted to him.
It continues:
''The first was suggestion that the old treaty
OF amity. commerce and navigation between the
United States and Chilli, which long since was
terminated, might be renewed with advantage to
both countries. In reply to this, the President
said he could not see any advantage to Chilli, and
was not disposed to enter into any further con-
ventions with foreign countries. The second
proposition involved the idea OF a reciprocal
commercial treaty between the two countries
by which the products Of each should be admitted
free into the other. This did not meet with any
greater favor with President Santa Maria, who
was not disposed to make reciprocity treaties
His people were at liberty to sell where they
could get the BEST prices and buy where goods
merce was not aided by commercial
treaties, and Chill, neither asked from
nor gave to other nations especial favors.
SO far as the United States was concerned there
could be very little trade with Chilli owing to
the fact that the products of the two countries
were almost Identical Chill produced very
| little that we wanted and although there were
many industrial products of the United States
that were used in Chill, the merchants of the
latter country must be allowed to buy where
they sold, and where they could trade to the
greatest advantage. With reference to the pro-
vision that reduced duties should be allowed
only upon goods carried in Chian or American
esses, he said that Chill did not want any such
means to encourage her commerce; her ports
were open to all vessels of the world upon equal
terms. 1t was suggested that there might
be large commerce between the two
countries If the lowgrade guano which
is adapted to the cultivation of cotton
in the Southern States, and is not sought
for in Europe could be exchanged for the manu-
factured products of the United States The
President very frankly and somewhat bluntly
| responded that the government of Chilli owned
all the guano, and had given the monopoly of its
exportaton to a company of which the people
OF the United States could purchase as much as
they liked"
The next topic seemed to be received with de-
clded favor, and not only the President but the
ministers present also joined in expressing their
acqulesence 1t was touching the establishment
of common silver coin, of the value of the
United States gold dollar; to be coined by each
OF the American republics, of an equal degree
OF tineness, and to an amount which should be
agreed to be legal tender in all commercial trans
actions between citizens of this hemisphere.
This proposition, which had already been assented
to by Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Costa
Rlca, Eucador and Peru, was accepted by
President Santa Maria, as "a long step
toward the monetization of silver and if adopted
by the American republics might. in his opinion,
compei the Latin Union to accept double
standard and increase the value of one of the
chief products of Chill. His government he
said, was ready to enter into a convention with
the United States and the other American repub-
lies, at any time. to secure suck desirable
result.
'"The fourth proposition. which invited the
views of the government of Chill to the practi-
cabiity of holding q congress of delegates from
all the American republics to adopt measures to
secure peace and promote prosperity among the
nations of this hemisphere met with disfayor
His Excellency could not see the advantage of
such gathering Chill had learned by expert
ence that nothing could be gained, and that the
general welfare was not promoted by interna-
tional conventions. He could not think
would agree upon, and while his government was
anxious to avoid war and secure a peaceful set
tlement of international disputes, the PROPOSE
tion did not find any favor in his eyes. If the
United States desired to call such a congress,
Chill would consider the invitation, but reserved
the right to decline, in case the government so
desired.
1.-The fifth and last proposition was general
one, and invited the suggestion of Chill as to the
best modes af increasing trade between that
country and the United States. The President
| repeated what he had said previously about the
impossibility of securing large trade but
thought that if there could be direct communica-
! ton by steam from the ports of one country to
| those of another, commerce would be greatly
aided. If any steamship company in the United
| States would establish such Communication, he
| believed the Congress of Chill would give it
| subsidy such was given to the Pacific Steam
COmnaOv of ThofE lima
receives an annual subsidy of $50 900 in silver,
and the Chilian Company, which employed
vessels along the coast between Valparaiso and
Callao, was given $l5O00O year, under the
condition that its vessels were always subject to
| charter by the government, and might be used as
| transports and cruisers in time of war Similar
aid would be afforded to any such company
desrous of trading along the coast Of Chill, it
was the policy of the republic to encourage
| commerce and legitimate competition.