Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-25
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
A Letter From Secretary Frelinshuvsen
in Reference Thereto.
WASHINGTON. Feb. "a


A letter has been written by Secretary
Frelinghuysen to Senator Miller, chairman
of tho Senate committee on foreign affairs,
and by teller laid before the Senate, embody-
ing statistics showing our trade relations with
the several countries of the continent, British
North America excepted. The letter was
suggested by resolution introduced by Sem
ator Morrill, last December. The secretary
confines himself to the consideration of COM
mercial aspects and valves constitutional
questions involved in the negotiation of recip-
rocity treaties.
The letter says that any measure of our
trade with foreign countries commensurate
with our industrial developement and require
ment, especially in the matter of finding
markets for our manufactures, can only come
through our commercial relations with coun-
tries inferior to US in population and wealth,
and reciprocity treaties would seem TO be the
most effective medium through which such
measures can be fostered.
The secretary uses several arguments in
support of the assumption which he makes,
that reciprocity established an equilibrium in
trade between the countries where an equa.-
ity existed prior to the application of such
treaty. In the absence of reciprocity treaties
with any of the ''inferior nations, our trade
Herewith stands as follows:
Imports therefrom, $40, 900: exports
thereto, S74, 759, 900; showing balance ut
trade against us of S93, 929 900. which can
only be equalzed through reciprocity treaties
in the same form as our trade with Brazil
and the Spanish West Indies, shows'the most
pronounced inequalities. 1t is taken for
illustration in this connection, our imports
from Brazil amount to $50, 265 900. and our
export thereto only s., ,692 900, nearly six to
r.. =.
Porto Rico amount to $64 ,09l ,0e0 and our
exports thereto $l3, ,l35,000, nearly five to
one against US.
Attention is called to the working of the
Hawaiin treaty as illustrative of what similar
treaties with other countries would expect.
In 1873 our exports were $500, 900; imports,
81, 1888 600; total, 80, 1872 900. In 1884 trade
had increased to So, ,525 600 exports, and 81
926,0 900 imports; total Sll ,449, 900, Full
statistics of Hawaiin foreign trade for 1888
shove that out of total import amounting
to So ,624 900. American products and manu-
factures amounted toS4 900. The Hawaiins
consume per capita $50 worth of American
products and manufactures per annum,
while Mexico consumes only 81 36 and the
other South American countries but little
more than this, the highest being the British
West Indies, which consumes S7,9S per
anu Tue loNest utlliR DTdLl, WIFI ~
cents per capita of American products and
manufactures.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen does not attempt to
create the impression that any system reci-
procity could produce such favorable results
in other countries as has been produced in
the case of Hawaii He assumes, however
that well devised system reciprocity treaties
with all South American countries, including
Mexico, would produce results at least | 10
as favorable as those produced under the
Hawatin treaty. This would give con-
sumption of So per capita, which would give
us an export trade amounting to $3.50, ,0Sl 900.
a gain on our present trade of $50, ,693, 900
Frelinghuysen argues that the surrender of
duties on our part would not equal that
of the countries referred to; that
home trade would not be called upon to sur
render an Immensely larger volume than
would be offered us in return and that any
enlargement of our commerce under the sys-
tenn of reciprocity treaties, would stimulate
our shipping and sbipbuiding interests The
question may thus be summed up. he con-
tinues Our markets are necessary for the
consumption of the products of ''inferior ma
tions," indeed, are natural markets therefor.
Their markets are necessary for the consump-
ton of our manufactures; are equally natural
markets therefor. Certain artificial condi-
tions intervene. which turn these trade chan
nels from natural courses and prevent free
interchange to the mutual loss of nations con-
cerned and the disarrangement of the COM
merce of the continent.
The natural conclusion is that the balance
can only be restored by reciprocity treaties.
There is scarcely product of the countries
under consideration that cannot be consumed
in the United States.
Speaking of importations into England and
France from the nations under consideration,
and the expectations from England and France
to these nations, as compared with the trade
between the United States and the ..inferior
nations" the secretary says There is a bal
ance of trade against the United States, of
S95, 729 600; against France to the amount
of $50, ,93S, 900, and in favor of England
to the amount of Sll COG, 900.
In conclusion the secretary says that the
revenue collected on imports from these sew
eral countries would be more than counter
balanced by even increase in our exports
thereto sufficient to bring them up to Eng
li,h exports, and if such increase could be
brought by reciprocity it seems the inaugura-
tion Of the system of treaties to that end is
worth the immediate consideration of Con-
gress. The resources of the countries with
which such treaties may be concluded are
practically without limit and their govern
ments and people are fully alive to this fact
1t follows that the superior nations which
aids in such development can monopolize the
greater portion of the import trade of each
and all.