, 1891-11-11

United States Government claims is, that
foreign countries shall reduce their import
duties on American products alone, but not on
the same kind of products from other countries.
1t is known that treaties to that effect have
been made with the Brazils, Spain and Sto. Do
mingo, and he belived that negotiations are
going ON also with some other countries. But
Denmark cannot give advantages to the United
States with exclusion of other countries, be-
cause Denmark's treaties of with
foreign countries are based on the most favoured
nations clause, and it is not necessary that it
should do SO, for the United States have al
ready the advantage they wish in their trade
with this island the United States produce
fills our market, foodstuffs are almost exclu-
sively imported from the United States, and at
least far in excess of what is imported from
other countries; we import as much as we can
consume from the United States, and their
produce meets with no competition in the
market here. The importers fix their prices,
and the import duty is paid by the consumers.
Such then, is the present actual state with re-
gard to the advantage claimed; the United
States have it already.
Now when we remember the facts-that the
Planters in St. Croix have gOtno advantage by
the duty free importation of sugar in the
United States, in SO far as the price of sugar
has not increased and is likely to fall in the
course of a few years on account of the
bounty.
That the United States producers can get
no advantage whatsoever by the reduction Of
our import duty.
That our import duty is not high but
very moderate in comparison with the import
duty in those other countries Spain, Brazil,
Sto. Domingo with which reciprocity
treaties have been made.
That a reduction of our import duty will
create difficulties to our treasury which must
be met with another TX, that most likely will
be less convenient to the inhabitants than the
import duty
1t is clear thatthe conclusion we come to is,
that we must wish, that the United Sta IS
Government will leave US in peace.
However, the American market should be
kept open to us-if possible, and, as stated
already, the Home Government is aware of the
Importance of the question and our Ambassador
in Washington is fully posted on the matter.
The only thing we can do is to wait. 1t would
be we'll perhaps if the American houses inter-
ested in st. Croix would use their influence at
home to make it clear to the authorities in the
United States, that they have no cause to at
tack us.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (BIackwoOd): In regard to His Ex-
cellency's remarks, he would beg to state, that
he had never understood itso, that the United
States Government should make o~vertures to-
wards that reciprocity treaty it is this colony
who is to be benefited. AS His Excelleucy
also showed, it is all important for us to secure
the American market. The great gain for the
producer by having that market is that he can
make different qualities of sugar, and not re-
curing pains to be taken in manufacturing;
therefore most of what used formerly to be
turned into rum is now made into sugars,
which do not find the European markets. AS
for the advantages here, he, for his part, did
not believe that the United States Government
require these or any other of the advantages
alluded to from other Nations but when all
other countries but Denmark accord those
advantages. he could see no reason why duty
free Importation in the United States should be
qiven Denmark, without her giving what the
other countries give. 1t appeared to him evil
dent. that we.ought to do something, if we
wish to obtainthe same footing as others. He
would beg to state that the Commercial Firm
in the United States, who he represents here,
is biohlv interested in the question at issue
thew have upwards of $500, 900 property here
and a yearly expenditure of some $4,000. It
would certainly be to our advantage to have
the produce go that direction, viz: for the
American markets. His house had written to,
him saving that they had seen moves in the.