Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-03
COMMERCE WITH CHILL.
PRESIDENT MARIA GIVES THE
COMMISSION A CHILL.

w WAsHINGToN, July 2.-The South
American Commission under date of San
tiagO, May IA, have made their report to
the Secretary Of State on the result Of
their visit to Chill. The commission
reached Valparaiso May 5. The report
says Valparaiso is almost an English
colony. The English language is used
almost exclusively in trade and the lead
ing merchants are subjects of Great
Britain. There being but three dis
tinctively American houses in the place,
the amount of goods imported from the
United States is very small beyond
what are brought by those firms, the
great obstacles to an extension of
this trade beng the disposition of
the Englishmen to trade at home, and
their ability TO do so on account OF the
high freights between New York and Val
paraiso, which are usually double the
cost of transportation between Valparaiso
and London, Havre or Hamburg. In
short, no goods are imported from the
United States, except when they cannot
be obtained elsewhere, and then it ie found
much cheaper TO ship them to Chill from
New York via Hamburg OF Liverpool.
CHIPS PRESIDENT.
The report describes the meeting
with the President of Chill by the COM
mission, and says that a series of PROPOSE
tions were submitted to him. IL con-
tinues:
''The first was suggestion that the old
treaty OF amity, commerce and naviga-
tion between the United States and Chill,
which long since was terminated, might
be renewed with advantage TO both coUn-
tries. In reply to this the President said
that he did not see any advantage to
Chill in such treaty, and was not dis
posed to enter into any further cOnven-
ti0ns with foreign countries. While be
personally and the people of Chilli in
general 'abounded' in most cordial feel
ings toward the government of the United
States and its people and endeaVOred 10
initiate us as closely as possible, he could
not see any necessity for a treaty, and
thought that the two nations could get
along just as well without one.
RECIPROCITY NOT CARED FOR.
"The second proposition involved the
idea of a reciprocal commercial treaty be-
tween the two countries, under which
special products of each should be admit
ted tree of duty into the other when car
ried under the flag of either nation. This
did not meet with any greater favor with
L 1I6blNtSHE OuuJd uLoHAds " tlO WAS uOt us
posed TO make reciprocity treaties. His
people were at liberty to sell where
they could get the best prices
and buy where goods were
the cheapest. In his opinion commerce
was not aided by commercial treaties, and
Chilli neither asked from nor gave to other
nations especial favOrs. Trade would
regulate itself, and there was no advan-
tage in trying to divert it in one direction
or the other. So far as the United States
was concerned there could be very little
trade with Chill, 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 Chilli,
the merchants of the latter country must
be allowed 10 buy where they sold, and
where they could trade 80 the greatest ad-
vantage.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
'With reference to The provision that re-
duced duties should be allowed only upon
goods carried in Chilian or American yes
sells. ne said that Chill did not want any
such means TO encourage her commerce.
Her ports were open to all the vessels OF
the world upon an equality, and none
should have special privileges.
''It was suggested that there might be
large commerce between the two cOun-
tries OF low grade Of guano, which is
adapted TO cultivation Of cotton
in the Southern States, and
is not sought for by Europe,
could be exchanged for manufactured
products OF the United States. The Presi-
dent very frankly and somewhat bluntly
responded that the government Of Chill
owned all the guanO, and had given a
monopoly Of its expectation to a company
of which the people OF the United States
could purchase as much as they liked.
UNIFORM COINAGE PROPOSED.
'"rhe next topic seemed to be received
with decided favor, and not only the
President but the three Minis
ters present also Joined in
expressing their acquiescence. 1t was
touching the establishment Of u common
silver coin OF the value Of the United
States gold dollar so be coined by each Of
the American republics Of an equal de-
gree of tinness and to an amount
to be legal tender IN all commercial trans
actions between citizens Of this hemis-
phere. This proposition, which has al
ready been aBsented 10 by Mexico, Yene-
zuela, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador
and Peru was accepted by President
Santa Maria as long step toward
the monetizatiOn of silver and II
adopted by the American republics might,
in his opinion, compel the Latin union to
accept double standard and increase
the value Of one OF the chie1 products of
Chill. His government, he said, was
ready 70 enter into a convention with the
United States aud other American repub-
lies at any time to secure such a desirable
result.
NOT IN FAVOR or A PEACE CONGRESS.
'The fourth proposition, which invited
the views OF the government OF Chill as
TO the practicability OF holding congress
OF delegates from all the American re-
publics % adopt measures to securp peace
and promote prosperity among Che nations
Of this hemisphere. met with dlstav0r.
His Excelency could not see the adyan-
tage Of such gathering. Chill had
learned by experience that moth
ing could be gained and that the
general welfare was not promoted
by international conventions. He could
not think OF any measure q Congress Of
this sort would agree upon, and while his
government was anxious 10 avoid war
and secure peaceful settlement Of inter
national disputes, the proposition did not
find any favor In his eyes. II the United
States desired TO call such Congress
Chill would consider the invitation, but
reserved the right to decline IN case the
government 80 desired.
DIRECT COMMUNICATION ADVOCATED.