New-York tribune., 1891-05-26
SUCCESS OF RECIPROCITY.

The Reciprocity amenumenU hds diioduJ
Welded large results Trade arrangements have
been negotiated with Brazil and Spain by which
largo concessions to the American export trade
have been secured by the United States in re-
.urn for the admission to free market of i'm
portations of coffee, sugar, moasses and hides
amounting TO S100, 600, 900. Similar negotia-
tions are in an advanced state with Venezuela,
Santo Domingo and Hayti, by which importa-
lions of the same class amounting to S13,615,-
ono will be made the basis of equitable com
pensations in favor of American exports. When
these three additional treaties are concluded
there will be a remnant of something over
$4,000 900 in the imports of sugar, molasses,
coffee and hides from the Southern countries
(the British West Indies being excluded), which
will be reserved for final series OF negotiations
with Colombia, the Central American States,
Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay If this
import trade be stated as $125, 200, 600 In
round numbers it follows that four-ffths OF it
has already been used as means OF securing
larger markets for American exports, and that
one-half of the remaining fifth will speedily be
covered by commercial agreements with Santo
Domingo, Hayt and Venezuela. The amend
ment has been in force only six months, yet
these remarkable results have been accom-
plished.
Ii is amusing to find our FreeTrade friends
the enemy goatng over what they consider
the failure of the Reciprocity policy of Congress
and the Administration. They have not yet
learned that the amendment has already
operated so as to secure most advantageous con-
cessions to the export trade. 1t is no longer 70
be regarded as tentative policy. IT has ac-
compshed its work in enlarging the forelgn
markets for American food products and man
ufactures in return for the free admission OF
four classes of tropical imports. The two
treaties concluded, with the three which are
under negotiation, will leave only one-tenth OF
these importations from the Southern countries
unprovded for Instead of giving away the
privilege of supplying their markets with what
cannot be obtained at hOme Americans VIII
speedily have substantial favors in return. This
is Reciprocity under the lines of the Aldrich
amendment carried out with amazing rapidity
and success.
The amendment was so simple and effective
contrivance that it is strange even ran
corous critics of the Administration should be
confused by its operation. They have errone-
ously assumed that the consent of the Senate
and also of the House would be required before
the treaties with Brazil and Spain could 60 into
effect. Legislative action, however, is entirely
dispensed with The Administration is armed
with power to proclaim at the end OF this year
a fixed schedule of duties on the imports which
have been named provided equitable compensa-
tons are not granted to the American export
trade When reciprocal trade arrangement is
made the free market is converted into perma-
nent privilege without the necessity for obtain
ing the consent of Congress- If Reciprocity be
refused, duties will be imposed in accordance
with the will of Congress as already enacted.
The Administration has not been compelled to
make its diplomatic offers to Southern countries
condtionaly and to forecast the contingencies
of legislative approval. The amendment was
clear and explicit. 1t armed the Administration
with weapon of tremendous power in diplo-
matte negotiations.
Seven months of grace now remain during
which the series of treaties may be completed.
Before the end of the year, unless all signs
fail. there will be treaties with Mexico, Colon
bia, Peru, Ecuador and most of the Central
American States, in addition to those with
Santo Domingo, Hayti and Venezuela now Writ
ually concluded All these arrangements ex-
oept that with Mexico can be grounded upon the
Aldrich amendment and will not be subject to
legislative sanction. The Mexican Treaty will
have to be larger compact, and Congress will
have the privilege of acting upon it; but this
probably will be the only exception. Reel
procity is already substantial gain for Ameri-
can trade. The full measure of its success will
be known when the time comes for enforcing
the retaliatOry schedules against the British
West Indies and other countries negecting their
present opportunities.