New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-21
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

]
United States was authorized to arrange con-
ference between this country, the Republic oil
Mexico, the Republics Of Central and South
America. Hayti. San Domingo and Brazil, the
last-named country being at that time an en-
pire under the rule of Dom Pedro. In the In
vitations sent out to the various participating
Governments the objects for which the Conference
was called were stated as follows;
First Measures that shall tend to preserve ny
peace and promote the prosperity OF the seVera e'f
second. Measures toward the formation Of an
American Customs Union, under which the radc OF IN;
Is possible and profitable, be promoted.
Third The establishment of regular and frequen,
American States and the ports Of each other.
Fourth. The establishment Of a uniform system n. o.
can sates 10 govern the mode Of Importation and ex
poratlon of merchandise and port dues and charges
a uniform method of determining the classiteatonn
and valuation of such merchandise in the ports OF eacn
country, and uniform system Of invoices ana ths
Fifth The adoption Cd uniform tH iysten atn, Oh rgbts
eOS sS S a% to GGss Citizens is Of Pssa Ga
In the other and for the extraditon of criminals:
sixth The adoption OF common mn sVsp fo se Se lesa
tender in all commercial transactions between 'is
citizens q all Of the Ameresn states ,Ss recommendation
for adoption to their respective Governments OF
plan Of ay now Ss ar or hereafter exist be-
tween them 10 the end that all dmcultles ana ais:
OIL" Eighth To consider such other subjects reIatins
tho several states represented as may
be presented by any OF said states
No treaty-making power was given to the Con-
! ference. and its conclusions were not to he held
binding unless subsequently ratified by the
various Governments themselves. The immedi-
ate effect aimed at was, in fact, moral one-the
fostering Of a spirit Of amity and goodwill
among the American Nations and the initiation
Of n neighbory understanding on the points
most vital to free and orderly intercourse, COM
mercial and otherwise. between the countries OF
the Western Hemisphere.
TWENTY WEEKS OF USEFUL WORK.
The Conference was duly called and met
formally in this city October ., 1889, and
after a trip through the Eastern Middle and most
of the Western States resumed its sessions on
November II. Yesterday it adjourned without
| day. having sat, with one or two short inter-
ruptons pretty steadily for the last twenty
weeks. Most of the delegates are making a sup
! Elementary Journey through the South. 10 extend
still further their acquaintance with the country
and its resources; but for all deliberative pur-
poses the Conference has practically dissolved'
It's work has embraced the whole list of subjects
suggested in the call issued by the United States,
I and on many topics important and valuable
|
adopted which recommend many measures call
| culated 10 remove the obstacles which have
heretofore existed TO commercial and social in
tercourse between the United States and its
southern neighbors. Definite schemes for in.
stance for the improvement of means of COM
munication both by land and water have been
suggested The unification Of the systems Of
customs, Of weights and measures. and of com.
mercia and legal usages generally prevailing
in the various countries has been discussed, and
some practical recommendations have been made
by the committee in charge of this branch of in
quiry. Finally, a general plan of international
arbitration has been devised and accepted, and
is now in fair way to be adopted by all the
American Nations. And if the Conference shotld
have other result than this its convocation
and session this winter at Washington would
undoubtedly be entitled to rank one of the
most notable events of contemporary history
The ultimate results of the meeting. of course,
can only be measured in the legislation which Is
expected to follow upon ard put in force the rec
concentrations OF the Conference 4 summary Of
these recommendations Will consequently he Of
great value in attempting to give any verdict
the work of the body which has just dispersed.
The reports made by the committees follow pretty
closely the division of topics laid down in the act
Of Congress authorizing the gathering. The first
head is general one, and all the measures sug-
gested tend directly or indirectly TO preserve
the peace and promote the prosperity Of the sew
eral American States.' The special application Of
the general principle in the arbitration scheme
adopted will fall more directly under the last
clause of the instruction which limited the work
of the Conference.
FREE TRADE AND THE CUSTOMS UNION.
The question of a customs union was consid-
cred by a committee of eight. ex-senator j. b.
Henderson being the representative on 1t OF the
United States. Two reports were presented. and
Oh April TO- with dissenting votes from Chill.
Paraguay and the Argentine Repabc, the fol-
lowing statement of views was adopted:
If by customs union is meant The free trade between
the American Nations of all their natural or manu-
featured products. what is properly speaking unre-
sricted reciprocity. the committee believes II Is IN
principle acceptable because all measures looking 10
the freedom Of must necessarily noreas the
trade and the development OF the material resources
Of the countries accepting that system and II would
i'm all probability bring about favorable results az
those obtained by free trade among the different
But while this committee believes that such a union
is at present impactcabe a, continental ssyad
on foreign trade constitute the main source of revenue
Dnt manufactiring countries would thus lose or
less of such revenue on which they depend ID greas
H@erlcs wonld have 10 abandon at least partially,
the protective policy which they have adopted TO more
or less extent and they do yet prepared TO
change thai system. Besides a reciprocity treaty
mutually advantageous between contiguous cOun-
tries might prove If extended TO all as con-
tinental compact, especially the products OF many
of the American Republics are similar Therefore,
while these obstacles in the way, seems prema-
tre to propose free trade among the Nations Of this
hemisphere. But If ii is not easy IN the opinion of
I he cammittee TO arrive once 10 Unrestricted
ciprocity that end might be obtained gradually and
partially. The first and most efficient step in that
direction is the negotiation of partial reciprocity trades
among the American Nations, whereby each may agree
TO remove or diminish their respective import duties
on some OF the natural manufactured products Of
or more OF the other nations, in exchange for similar
and eouyalent advantages. a.. II the mutual
ccssions were not equiva the treaties would
become odlous could not last but for a ,lmited time,
and vould discredit the system If after this has
tried for some reasonable time good result should fol-
low as it is TO be expected, the number Of articles
on the free list might be enlarged in each case from
time time until they attain through the development
Of the natural elements Of wealth. other OF
enue or an increase OF the existing which would
allow the contracting nations to reach unrestricted
reciprocity, a free trade among all the
American Nations. Therefore the committee pro-
poses:
MD of @1. <.,t-