The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-18
THE SOUTH AMERICAN COMMISSION.
Its Cordial Reception in Uruguay and Ar
gentine Republic.


gentine Republic.
WASHINGTON, Aug 1.-THE commissioners
appointed to visit the Central and South Ameri-
can States in the interest of more inti@ate inter
national and commercial relations between
those countries and the United States submit.
ted report to the Department of State of its
work in Uruguay and the Argentine Republic.
After stating that both at Buenos Ayres and at
Montevideo the commissioners sought from
commercial communities information concern
ing the present condition of commerce,
and suggestions as to the best means of promot-
ing trade with the United States, which will be
submitted with q report to the President, now in
course Of preparation. the report in part says:
THE share Of the United States in the enormous
commerce of the river Platte country, which
includes Paraguay, Uruguay and the Argentine
Republic, is lamentably insignificant. and less
than it was half century ago Tne reason Is
very apparent. Twentyoue lines Of steamships
connect those ports with those Of Europe, while
there is no regular steamship connection what
ever with our country. From forty to sixty
steam BIS arrive at Buenos Ayres every
month from Europe, and not one from
the United States. The few products Of
our fields and factories found there are brought
sometimes in chartered vessels, but more fre-
quently come by way Of Europe, the merchants
with one voice saying that because of the abb
sence of steam communication, they can afford
to buy in the United States only such articles as
cannot be obtained elsewhere. The presentation
of the commission to the President of Uruguay
was made tho occasion of a great deal of ccre-
mony and military display, it being the desire of
the government, as we'll as or the people, 10
testify in this manner to their admiration for
the grand Republic as the United States Is
universally called. The President of Uruguay
and his ministers, after expressing with great
| ardor their admiration for the United States,
+lnsu nntI in all
things, and their desire for closer relations,
accepted without discussion each and all of the
propositions submitted by the commission, ex-
cept that which relates TO a reciprocity treaty
with the United States To this they would
have readily assented also, had the commission
felt justified III encourng them to expect that
the Congress of the United States would consent
to reduction, or a removal of the duty on wool.
this being the chief product Of Uruguay,
and the only article exported to
the United States which is taxed
under our tariff With regard to the
proposed common coin and the international
congress, they were quite enthusiastic. The
government of Uruguay they said, not in
such financial condition to offer pecuniary
aid towards the establishment of steamship
lihe between its ports and the United States, but
very earnestly hoped that something might be
done in this direction, and would agree to afford
the steamers special privileges in the matter Of
harbor dues" etc.
The presentation of the commission to the
President of the Argentine Republic was. at the
Commissioners request, attended with as little
formaitv as was consistent with diplomatic
rank and usage. and the usual complimentary
addresses were exchanged. The formal topics
submitted for consideration at our conference
with President Roca and his government the
report continues "were all cordially approved
and accepted by them. Nowhere has the
commission met with more cordiaty, and no.
where has the desire for closer political and COM
mercial relations with the United States been so
,y1f fl,A Ancr tim hot
country aspires to be to South America what our
country is to the northern continent, and is
making very rapid strides toward such position
The President earnestly desired more intimate
commercial relations with the United States, but
said that it was useless to expect trade without
transportation facilities. The Argentine govern
ment was willing 10 do as much as the United
States in giving financial aid to steamship
company that would sail vessels between ports
of the two countries, and he hoped that our
Congress would do something at once. so as to
make the markets of the United States accessi-
BILE to the Argentine importers"