New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-13
WORKING FOR RECIPROCITY.
A BRITISH COMMISSION IN WASHINGTON.
TRADE WITH TUp CENTRAL AMERICAN AND
WET INDIAN COLONIES - DIcCBhMINA-

WET INDIAN COLONIES - DIcCRhMINA-
TyoN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
[BY TELEGRAPH 10 TkIBuNE1
Washington Nov. 12.-Among secretary Blaines
callers to-day the British Minister and sir neville
Lubbock, who aferward held long talk with General
John W. Foster, special penip9tentiaiy, who Is col
duetiDg the reciprocity negotiations In behalf OF 'c
United States Mr.. Lubbock is the commissioner 10
represent British Guiana and all the British colonial
possessions in Central america and the West Indies eA
cept Jamaica aud Barbados, in such negotiations anu
he will be Joined In few days by commissioners from
Jamaica and Barbados. This is not sir Neviiles hrs'
Official visit Washington In the interest of commefcia
reciprocity. In 1883 he was here as commissioner
for that purpose, and the negotiations at That te e
suited in draft Of commercial treaty, under WHICH,
IN return for the free admission Of sugar from BRUSH
Guiana Honduras and the British West indies, the
United States to receive certain concessions In e
gard to duties on her products exported 10 toso cou
tries which were not enjoyed by any 0ter country ho'
excepting England. The proposed treaty was not ap
proved by te British Government for that reason, ana
Il was not ratified by the United states senate III hay
be remembered that the Cleveland ADMINISTRATION,
which came into power about this time, was not ex-
remely friendly to commercial reciprocity treaties sew
eral of which dropped In an incomplete STATE Dy
tOr through It's influence.
Sir Neville Lubbock arrived in Washington several
DAYS ago, and since his arrival he has been in con-
sutatior with Sir Julian Pauncefote, who appears to
have impressed the British view Of reciprocity with
this country upon the mind of the colonial COMMITS
sioner with considerable force and effect. In con-
versaton with reporter, the latter expressed his
views with freedom and frankness than officials
intrusted with and engaged IN diplomatic negotiations
usually do Among other things he said:
any mission In Washington is to endeavor to show
the President and the Secretary of State that the
British West Indies do not impose upon imports from
the United stetes duties that are unequal or ureason-
able when co.npalId With the tariff imposed upon
imports from other countries In other words, we VIII
give TO articles imported by from the United states
the privileges and advantages That we anofo 10
goods even imported from Great Britain"
"But the reciprocity arrangement carries with IL
suggestion that in return for the admission OF sugar.
the United States shall receive some benefits
Z" SO far as the British West Indies are concerned
that was a proper position for the United States 10
assume in 1884 when ii agreed to receive our sugar
free of duty as against tariff OF f1O English to tbs
ton levied against sugar from other countries But
the conditions now are different All sugars are
coming in free, that favors can be shown TO US
The best that The United States can do Is to put US on
an equality with other sugar producing countries. III
return for this guarantee TO the United states
that we will not discriminate against 1t in importing
American goods"
awhst will happen if no agreement is reached
and the duties here are re-imposed"
ave shall send all our sugar TO the Cmted
present we send all of ii to the United States. excepV
the Demerara sugar which Is fancy grade and which
goes TO England. have no hesitation In saying that
we should like TO continue our trade with this country
The relations at present Pleasant During the last
few years we have largely increased our imports OF
American goods and -four from this country
exclusively We also take large quantity OF your
lumber and petroleum. These Dup principal lm-
ports except linen and cotton goods which OF course
come to us from England. We also get soma OF the
heavier grades farm implements from the United
States OF course. cannot predict what tla outcome
of my visit will be- but believe that the Government
here aware Of the position which England has always
iek-n VIII appreciate the fact that the British West
Indies cannot offer to the United states advantages In
arT rates lower than that which other countries, in
ending England. enjoy, but hlat the other hand,
It does offer rates that equal and reasonable
An examination of the tariffs Of British Guiana and
the British Wes' rdcs does not bear out the assertion
thai there j. no discrimination against American goods
Take wheat GOur for example and compare the rates
of duty that leading import from the United States
with the rates imposed manufactures OF cotton OF
every descipton-the finest and most expensive as well
~ the cOasc,t and cheapest The duty Oh wheat Hour
imported into British Guiana is III per barrel which, at
the declared export value for 1890, was equivalent to
o5.4l per cent nd valoem; the duty cotton goods
was per cent ad valorem. The duty on wheat flour
imported into Jamaica 81 per BARREL which, at
lie value Of -four exported to the British Wes'
Indies last year, equivalent 10 4b per ceit au
vsIolem the duty cotton goods IL 12 per cent
The duty OH wheat -four imported into Barbadoes is 81
per barrel which, at the export value Of last year. was
equivalent to 2347 per cent the duty on cotton goods
was per cent.
The duty OH -four imported into Trinidad was equ!va-
lent 10 about i per cent ad valorem; the duty oil
cotton fabrics was only per cent ad vaorem. four
times as much. Trinidad imported from the United
States about 900 worth OF -four the duties on
which amounted to about ZOO. or s32 900 more
than the duties on 81 100000 worth Of cotton linen
woollen and silk goods imported from the United
Kingdom.
The total value of the exports Of cotton goods from
the United States 10 British Guiana last year was
e294el: TO Jamaica. 100000 while the exports OF
cotton goods from the United Kingdom to jamaica
alone amounted in value TO $1,415.0oO or seven times
as much the exports of cotton goods from the United
States to British Guiana and all the British West lndia
Islands. The exports Of wheat -four from the united
States to British Guiana amounted to $672,948 and 10
Jamaica to Ss9OOO0, while the United Kingdom ex-
ported mono 10 either place.
A further examination of the tariffs of British
Guiana Honduras and the British West indies FUZZY
justfes the statement that those tariffs have been in
genously contrved TO compel the producers and ex'
porers OF the United States TO support the expensive
Governments Of those colonies and to allow English
manufacturers access 10 their markets on nominal
terms Here are rates taken at random from the
tariff OF British Guiana, upon commodities which arc
imported into that country chiefly from the United
States Breadstufs, average rae 20 per cent pro
vs!onspcked pork 25.o per cent lard. IA per cent
butter 147 per cent cheese. IS per cent kerosene.
qO4 per cent; beef sailed picked, Is per cent um
Der boards deals etc. IL per cent with reduction to
l6 1900 per cent for splits in the case Of white pine
ard spruce boards.
More than tire, foGrihs Of the total exports from the
United states 10 british Guiana consist OF the articles
named above. Here Of the rates which apply
ad In Hc.fie
Guiana chiefly from the United Kingdom: Cotton
goods apparel and ha5crdashcry, linen end woollen
manufactures Of all kinds machinery, hardware, cut
lery and tools per cent ad vsorem These articles