Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-18
WANT OUR COMMERCE.
sOUTr AMERICAN OPINIONS
Report of me Commission Sent 10 Cen
fral and south America ~ me
Interests Of Commerce.

a asaISGros, Aug lT.Ihs Commission
appointed ~ yisit TIE Csnt1sl and soath
American stats > Ia ths interests OF more mt
mate international oOmnsrcsal relations <ith
tho-s countries, has submitted report -
The Department ~ 5taSs II - work IA Lr-
aguag snd tns Argentine Repubnc. After
stating that both Al Basnos Ayres and 1on-
tsviaso the Commission soGxnI from the
aomm.srcial communities information con
osrujnz The present condition 0f cot0mef
ilna suggestions ~ ~ tls oe7E means Of
promoting trade With the ! RIied states.
shicn -ili be submitted WITH the report -
the President no~ IA course Of preparation.
The report say-. The share OF the United
States in the enormous conmerce OF the
River Platte couutry, Snlcn Includes Para
quay. ruguay tnd the ArZeEtIne kepabLc.
IL lamrutably insignificant, and iees than u
Nas half eeutarY ago. ih's reason I. sefy
apparent lssnEY one lines Ot steamships
connect these port sith Those of Europe,
While there Is no regular comm unicatlOn
whatever with the United States From
forty - sIKty steamers arnvs 40 BuenOs
Ayfe- every month from kurOpo, but
n0t one from the United states. The
fax Of our c0uutrY IL asvor -een
la their waters except upon men -of-~ar
anl sent occasionally upon -0me small sail
some special voyage. Al English company
sends q steamer % New York when nece--
sary Nhers e discharges A cargo OF hides
aud wool And reloads with cargo Of mer-
chandi-e for Europe. The few products Of
our fields and factories found there are
brought sometimes ia these chartered ves-
sells, but more frequently come by way Of
Europe. the merchants with one voice say
inz thai because Of the absence Of steam
communication they can afford 10 boy Ia the
Lnited States only sucn articles a. cannot
be obtained elsewhere"
The presentation OF the commission 10 the
President Of Uruguay Was made the Occas-
slon Of a great deal 0f ceremony and mill
tary display. At the conclusion Of the cere-
mOuies conference Was had with the
government. az which a series Of topics were
submitted for consideration. A. a result OF
this conference the commission press at the
following summary. The President OF
Uruguay and hi- ministers. after expressing
with great ardor their admiration for the
United States. their interest IN
our government IN all things, aud
their desire for the closest relations,
accepted withous discussion each and All OF
the propOzitiOn-. except that which relates
10 = reciprocity treaty with the United States.
To this they would have readily assented
alsO had the cOmmI-siOn fslt Justified IN en-
cOcrsginZ them % expect that the Congress
OF the United States would consent 10 a re-
.luction or removal of the ddty on wool.
Thi- being the chief product Of Uruguay.
and the only article exported 10 the United
States which IL taxed under our tariff, was Of
course that IN which they felt the most and
only interest With regard % the proposed
commercial and international congress they
0ere snthusiastlc.
The Government Of Uruguay. thew said was
not in such financial condition "a to offer
pecuniary and towards the establishment OF
a steamship line between IL ports and the
Uuited States. bat earnestly hoped some
thing might De done IN this direction and
would agree % afford steamers special priv
lsges la the matter OF harbOr dues. etc.
The presentation Of the commission 20
the President OF the Argentine Republic
va. at commissioners request, attended
with little formaiity "A consistent with
diplomatic raDk and usage. The usual com
p,imentary addresses we're submitted.
q" The formal topics submitted
for consideration" the commissioners say,
were cordially approved and accepted. No
where has the commission met with more
genuine cordiahty. and nowhere has desire
for closer political and commercial relations
Eith the nited States been 40 apparent a.
I'M the Argentine Republic. That country
aspirez 20 be % south America what our
country ~ 10 the Northern continent, and u
making rapid strides towards such position.
The President earnestly desired more init
mate commercial relations with the United
States. but said it was useless 10 expect
trade without transportation faCil-
itiss. The Argentine Government
wa willing % do AZ much a the United
States IN xiviag financial td 20 . steamship
company that would sail vessels between
porss 81 the two countries tie hoped our
Congress would do something az once so A
to make the markets Of the jnlted States
sccessibie % argentine importers. He
looked 80 the United States 70 lead IN this a.
fu other measursS. We were requested 10
assure our Government that has own would
immediately follow and Do it, share IA any
movement that would Increase the trade Of