The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-11
A Bad REPORT
From Our Comm issioners to the Central and
South American States.

South American States.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The commission ap-
pointed to visit Central and South America in
the interest of commerce between those coun-
tries and the United States has made reports on
its visit to Ecuador, Venezuela and Guatemala.
no reports on the visit to Brazil and the Argen-
tine Republic have been submitted and it is
understood that none will be made. The COM
mission says it found the President of Ecuador
dsinclined to reciprocity treaty because his
government needed the revenue from imports,
and because other countries buy more goods from
Ecuador than the United States. The tariff of
Ecuador is to be revised soon, however,
and he would suggest a reduction in the duty on
kerosene. In regard TO the adoption of COM
mon silver coin for the Central and South
American States and the United States he
said his country was not working its silver
mines, and had no silver to coin. He favored
commercial congress of the countries mentioned,
and went on to say that one of the great
obstacles to commerce with the United
States was the high freight charges,
the carrying trade being practically
monopoly, and intimated that if the United
States would establish line of coasters with
equitable charges, no other coast vessels would
be allowed to trade at the ports of Ecuador
The commission found that treaty with Spain,
EcuadCrs largest customer, was being nego-
tldVSu He commission DelleNeS tndC uy tn6
exercise of proper methods, the United States
can gain practical control of the trade OF this
country.
In the report on the results of the visit tc
Guatemala IS embodied a communication from
the Minister of Foreign Affairs in relation to
memorandum of points for consideration, sub
mtted by the commissioners It concludes
follows The government Of Guatemala is
thoroughly convinced of the necessity Of more
intimate relations between the United States and
md nc oil fotiOr 10
1t, Of the desires of the United States to lend its
moral influence in case Of necessity prevent
European interference in American affairs, and
considers that such influence and attitude will
be very important and beneficial"
The government of Guatemala is disposed to
arrange, and it has already taken some steps
toward It. treaty Of reciprocity drawn so az
to produce the greatest possible bene.
inhabitants of both countries, according 10 the
terms proposed in the memoranda, but reserves
the privilege Of hereafter stating in detail
the articles to be included on both sides; pro-
vided that among those articles produced by
Guatemala to he received free into the United
States, sugar shall be included. The letter adds
that Guatemala favors a common silver coin Of
the value of the gold dollar; that that Nation
would gladly join an international congress, and
concludes by saying that a consolidation or the
five Central American States would prove OF
great commercial advantage all around.
n
Washington Special
A naval officer who has been for about fifteen
years in South American waters, and who is q
shrewd observer, is quoted as saying: "All the
Spanish American nations desp:se us, and lose
no opportunity of expressing their contempt. l
know that if the Chilian government had con-
suited the wishes or ambitions of some of its
military and naval officers, that alliance which
Ecuador tried to effect would have been made,
and then we would not have got Santos out of
Ecuadorian clutches without fight In Santiago
the people showed their dislike for the
United States in every possible way
Their officials openly declared that
the Gillian navy could destroy ours in three
hours conflict, and that nothing would please
them better than chance to loot San Francisco
\ ou can partially understand this you say. Lee
me tell you how it is. These semi civilized
nations to the southwark are like Indians in one
respectively believe in nothing except visible
superior force. The ignorant class is in the
majority. so far as numbers go, as it is every
where else They firmly believe that the Yam
KEGS, as they denominate all Americans. are
afraid OF them, and his makes them insolent
My patience has been sorely tried by
these people more than once, and they