New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-21
RECIPROCITY TITH SPANISH-AMERICA'


that conflict is almost unavoidable.
RECIPROCITY TITH SPANISH-AMERICI.
Secretary Blaine's letter, submitted to Con-
oress with the report Of the n-American Con-
ference on the subject of continental customs
union. is the most notable state paper Oh
the present Administration. comprehensive
in its treatment of interests affecting the
American Continent, luminous in its exposition
of the most complex questions OF hnance anu
revenue. and as practical as it is patriotic III
IFS recommendations for the expansion OF the
foreign trade of the United States it is one OF
the browning works of an illustrious career
So constant and so partisan have been current
Misrepresentation of the practical results vi
the International Conference that lucid ana
mastery presentation of the whole subject was
urgently needed. Secretary Blame lliumlneS
the broad field of continental policy with MS
clear and practical intelligence. lie dehhes
the lines of necessary legislation by Congress
and outlines a progressive policy for the Unlted
States.
The Pan American Conference pronounced
the immediate establishment of continental
customs union impracticablc The United
States was not at fault, for it had opened its
markets 70 all the leading staples of South and
Central America with the exception OF sugar.
wool and one or two metals customs union
was unavoidable because the southern nations
were largely dependent upon their customs
dues for the maintenance OF their governments
and the development of their resources. Inc
Conference clearly discerning the necessities
of the southern republics, did not attempt what
was impossible, the establishment of complete
recprocity, but recommended partial reciproc-
;ty in the negotiation of treaties wherever such
action might be practicable Secretary Blame,
after explaining the reluctance OF the Argen-
tine and Chill 10 unite with the other Powers
represented in the Conference, shows that NJ
teen of the seventeen republics Indicated their
desire to enter upon reciprocal commercial
relations with the United States, and that the
other two only hesitated because they appre-
hended from the ill-timed proposal TO place
duty upon hides that their advances would not
be favorably considered. He then recommends
a simple comprehensive and practical measure
for carrying out the reciprocity policy OF the
Conference and convincing all the spanish
American nations of the Willingness OF the
United States 10 offer to them large measure
Of free trade. This is the passage OF an amend
ment to the pending Tariff bill authorizing the
President TO open the ports OF the United
States to their products whenever and so long
as no export duties are levied in return and
American brcadstuffs and specified number
of American products and manufactures are
received duty-frce.
IL cannot be denied that the proposal to tax
hides seriously embarrassed the work of the
Conference; and it is equally plain that the
repeal of the sugar duties 10y the pending
Tariff bill narrows the margin for reciprocity
negotiations by conceding a free market Tor
one of the few Southern staples now subject
TO duty. Secretary Blaine sets forth the fulfil
ty of attempting reciprocity negotiations III
the absence of any concessions which It is with
in the power of the Government to make. lie
shows how easy it will be for Congress in the
Tariff bill 10 avoid the delay and uncertainty
of treaty negotiations by arranging broad
basis for reciprocity subject to Executive proc
| amation. His proposition has been introduced
by Senator Hale as an amendment to the pend
ing bill, and is to be commended to the careful
| consideration of Congress.
The necessity for establishing direct lines of
|
countries and of providing American banking
facilities is fully appreciated by Secretary
Blaine. He contrasts the enlightened policy OF
European commercial nations in meeting these
practical requirements of South American trade
with the inaction and indifference displayed
by the United States. He argues that it will
be time enough for Americans to consider
whether, in order TO gain access to foreign
markets, they must cheaper production by
cheapening labor when they have fairly tried
the effect of rapid and trustworthy steam com
munication and convenient methods of money
exchange. His letter outlines policy of en-
lghtened scIi-intercst for the United States
The restoration of the commercial marine and
a system of international banking are the
primary requisites for the expansion of the
export trade; and concurently with the en-
ployment of these agencies the large measure
of free trade already offered under the existing
tariff may be rounded ont and completed by
reciprocity under adequate safeguards and
equitable conditions.