The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-23
ENGLISH SUGAR ISLANDS.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning an
Important Matter.

Some Interesting Facts Concerning an
Important Matter.
The term allowed for the negotiation Of
reciprocity conventions under the Aldrich
amendment to the Tariff Act is drawing 10
a close. After January l, 1892, the Presi-
dent will be under obligations to reimpose
duties on coffee, sugar, molasses and hides
imported from those countries which neg
lect TO comply with the requirements of the
free market for their produce Even il
this Executive duty were not defined by
Congress in explicit terms the treaty ar
rangements already made with Brazil, the
Spanish West Indies and San Domingo
would justly involve Determinations against
the competing produce of countries which
fall to enter into equitable trade relations.
Venezuela, which now levies heavy duties
upon American flour, cannot fairly expect
the United States to receive Its coffee and
hides on equal terms with the same products
from Brazil. which has adopted preferential
schedules for exports shipped in return.
The Spanish West Indies having opened
their markets to American export, will also
+ be entitled to have discrimination made in
favor OF their sugar against that imported
from the British West Indies if the reci-
procity offer be declined in that quarter.
This question is well illustrated by the
sugar trade with the West Indies. The
United States now draws 55b per cent of
its sugar imports from that quarter. 42b of
this from the Spanish islands and Is from
the British West Indies and British Guiana.
Out Of total Importation of SO, 191, 1913 re-
ceived from these English colonies in 1890,
sugar and molasses comprised S13, 234, 675,
and the balance was made up of coffee,
frult dye-woods, cocoa, hides and other
articles. The chief product of the English
possessions cannot be sold, except in small
volume. in Europe, where beet-sugar has
crowded it out 1t is marketable mainly in
Int I'm ip,n I'D
upon 1t here, the chief staple OF the British
Islands will be Disseminated against in the
only market where there is any chance of
selling it. Such discrimination would be
rulnous to the British West Indies. 1t is
not strange that they have sent commits
sioners to Washington to ascertain what
terms can be made for obtaining free entry
Tor their sugar as permanent privilege.
one OF these commissioners seems to COLI
slider diplomacy game of draw poker, at
which bluffing will carry off the reciprocity
jackpot, but he will soon be undeceived.
1t will be interesting to watch the course
OF the British Government in dealing with
this question. These islands were among
its earliest colonial possessions, and We're
the prizes Of a long series of naval wars
with France and Spain. Originally planted
TO tobacco and cotton, they became coffee
and sugar islands under African slavery.
After emancipation coffee was dropped aud
their industrial energies were conferred upon
sugar, with AsiaticS imported at large ex-
peDse to themselves to do most of the work
In Trinidad and British Guiana. The En-
glish have legislated and governed in such a
way rs to empty the islands of their white
population and to leave them at the mercy
of ignorant blacks. Their fortunes have
steadily declined under British rule. Their
sugar industry remains, and their fruit
trade with the United States, but there is
little else.
a few years ago the United States offered
them the advantage OF a sugar treaty and
England vetoed the project. The proposal
is now renewed under conditions which
VIII involve ruinous determinations against
their chief industry if it be refused a second
time. What England will do now remains
to be seen.--N. Y. Tribune.