The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-06
Secretary Blaine's First Great
Victory in Reciprocity.
TO TAKE EFFECT APRIL I, 1891
Sugar, Coffee and Hides Admitted
Free From South America.
In Return Products of the United States
and Manufactured Articles Escape
Brazilian Import Duties-A Great I'm
pctus for Trade Close at Hand.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 5-The Post an
nounees this morning that the negotiations
which have been in progress between the United
States and Brazil resulted last Saturday in the
signing OF an agreement under the reciprocity
clause OF the new tariff law, by Secretary Blaine
and Senor Mendonica, the Brazilian minister.
Inc agreement has been approved by President
Harrison, and proclamation announcing the
TACT viii probably be made public without de-
lay. The agreement will 20 into effect on Jan
uary next.
The Post adds that it is understood that a sim
liar agreement with Cuba and Venezuela is be-
ing negotiated
Under the provisions of the agreement Brazil
reduces her import charges upon American
products of farm, factory and mine to about
So,OO0OVO annually The present annual impor-
tation OF sugar from Brazil is about l250O0 tons,
and 1t is believed under the stimulus which this
reciprocity will give, she will this year increase
her sugar shipments to 200,0o0 tons, next year to
00OOeo tons and that in five years Brazil will be
able to furnish all the sugar required in the
United States. Some idea of the far-reaching
Importance OF this reciprocity agreement may
be gathered from estimates which have
been made of the trade which will
result. At present the United States
pays to Brazil annually about s65,000O00, while
it only receives about ss,o0o00o in return. 1t is
expected that in three years Brazil viii pay the
United States in return for our manufactures
and products at least s2500O,000 which amount
Will be distributed through every section of the
country. Not only will Brazil place many
American articles on the free list, but it has
been arranged that on other articles in the man
ufacture of which Europe competes with this
country, the tariff will be lowered in our favor
to an extent which will make it profitable to
Brazil to import the goods from this country
rather than from Europe.
This afternoon President Harrison issued a
proclamation setting forth that the Brazilian
minister has communicated to the secretary OF
state the fact that in due reciprocity and in con-
slderatlon OF the admission into the United
states free of all duty of articles enumerated in
section OF the tariff act towit: sugars, moasses
eouee and hides, the government of Brazil has
by legal enactment authorized the admission,
from and after April /, 1891, into all established
ports of entry OF Brazil, free of duty merchan-
disc named as follows, provided such be the
prodnct and manufacture of the United States:
Wheat, wheat -four, corn and maize and man
utactures thereof, including meal and starch;
rye. rye -four, buckwheat buckwheat flour,
barley, potatoes, beans, peas, hay, oats; pork,
salted, including picked pork, except
ham; fish, salted, dried or picked: cotton
seed OIL coal, anthracite and bituminous;
rosin, tar, pitch and turpentine, agricultural
tools, implements and machinery, including
stationary and portable engines, and all ma
chinery for manufacturing and industrial pur-
poses, except sewing machines instruments and
books for the arts and sciences, railway con-
struction material and equipment.
The government of Brazil has also further
authorized the admission with a reduction OF -
per cent OF the existing tariff duty in Brazil,
the following named articles produced or manu-
factured in the United States:
Lard, and substitutes thereof; bacon, hams,
butter, cheese; canned and preserved meats,
fish, fruits and vegetables: manufactures of
cotton, including cotton clothing; manufac-
lures of iron and steel, single or mixed, not in
cluded in free schedule; leather and manufac-
lures thereof, except boots and shoes; lum-
Der, timber and manufactures of wood, in
cluding cooperage; furniture of all kinds;
wagons, carts and carriages; manufactures of
rubber.
The government OF Brazil has further provided
that laws and regulations adopted to protect its
revenue and prevent frauds in declarations and
proofs ETC., shall place no undue restrictions on
the lmportations, nor impose any additional
charge or fees therefor on articles imported.
The proclamation states, further, that the
secretary of state has, by the presidents direc-
tion given assurance to the Brazilian minister
that this action of his government in granting
exemption OF duties to products and manufac-
lures of the United States is accepted as due
reciprocity for the action of congress, as set
forth in section 5 OF the tariff act. Therefore
President Harrison has caused the above stated
notifications of the tariff law of Brazil TO be
made public for the information OF citizens of
the United States.
The first of a series OF letters upon this subject
wal written by Mr.. Blaine and dated November
8, 1889 In it the secretary of state expresses to
Senor Mendonica the hope that the government
of Brazil will meet the government OF the United
States in spirit of sincere friendship in its de-
sire for such trade relations with that country
shall be reciprocally equal and that 1t may be
the happy fortunes of Senor Mendonica and
himself to be instrumental in establishing COM
mercial relations between the two republics on
permanent basis of reciprocity, profitable to
both.
In his reply, dated January ST. $780, Senor
Mendonea informs Secretary Blaine that the
United States of Brazil are animated by desire
to strengthen and perpetuate the friendly rela-
tions which happily exist between them and the
United states OF America and to establish basis
OF reciprocity and equality.
Secretary Blaine on the same day, in note to
Senior Mendonica, expresses satisfaction at the
attitude of the Brazilian government in the
matter, and asks Senior Mendonica to meet him
at the department of state to agree upon the
time aud manner OF making public the an
nouneement of this commercial arrangement
NEW YORK, Feb. 5--Sir Charles Tupper and
Sir Donald smith arrived from London today.
Sir Charles, speaking of Canada proposals on
the question OF reciprocity. said he thought the
proposition 10 be of the most practicable and
satisfactory character ever submitted.
it s"A IS understood that 'sIr Sir john john Nae s
donald received severe reprimand
from the British government yesterday Tor
having made public the text OF the proposal of
reciprocity he has made through the British
government TO TIE government OF the United
states, before it reached the authorities at
mier on account of the desperate means he was
driven to 20 save his government from an ig-
nominious defeat when IL goes before the conn-
Try for yindicatiou OF its policy next month.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 5.-Secretary Blaine
said today with reference TO the dispatch from
ottawa, published this morning, which gives
from Canadian source what purports to be the
manner in which the proposal for reciprocity ne
gOtiations can be made 10 the United States,
that the statements concerning himself ana his
action ia the matter are utterly without iounda-
ton.
LONDON, Feb 5.-The Chronicle. in an article
on the reciprocity question. says: We hope
common sense will prevail and the time rapidly
approach when America and Canada will see
the folly OF danmfng the stream OF friendly in
tercourse. The difference between the pro-
z IL - -