New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-19

RECIPROCITY 1ROODLEo uhhAA Di'i
The despised Mckinley bill begins to be APP
nreciated and feared by the British Govern
ment. In no sense intended to hurt England
or any other nation, but simply to give Detter
chance for prosperity to people OF the Cnileu
states. this measure threatens to cut oil BRITISH
trade M vital points. There is great excite
ment already in Lancashire about the American
Reciprocity Treaty with Brazil, which gives al
mission into that country OF cotton goods rom
tho United States at rates of duty 20 per cent
lower than the rates imposed on similar goouS
from Great Britain The same advantage Is
oivan to American manufactures OF iron ana
.oel IF rubber. wood and leather. and as BTU
;sh evnorts 70 that country are in value over
s31 600 600 4 wear. it Is no small trade that
is threatened. The largest item however Is
the cotton goods trade, for British exports "
Brazil of such goods were IN Vaiue aoou'
S12.5OO. 900 in 1890 Next in importance Is
the trade in iron and steel manufactures the
oxports of cast and other forms OF iron, steam
eneines and other machinery rails, hardware
and cutlery. amounting in value last year to
mora than S7.6OO,00O. In these two classes
were over two-thirds of British exports to Bra
I'll and in both of these Americans are able to
comrete already. and will have great advan-
tage under the new treaty.
The cotton manufacturers, according to dis
matches. are up in arms about the matter de-
handing with passionate earnestness that LORD
Salisbury shall do something to neutrallze the
advantage which this country has secured. Lord
Harrington and Mr. Chamberlain are mentioned
among the many prominent members OF the
IA. md
ANYTHING that the British Government could do
that would be effective, the Ministry would
hardly dare to refuse it. But the main trouble
is that British free trade has already deprived
the Government of the power to admit sugar
free of duty. or India rubber, hides, hair, wool,
or almost any product of Brazil except coffee,
cocoa and tobacco. Upon these articles Great
Britain depends for a large revenue, and In ac-
cordance with its free-trade policy is com
PEELED to tax these in order to avoid placing
duties on other things. British imports Of
coffee from Brazil last year were only $4,000
600 pounds. against 80. 100000 pounds OF
Brazilian coffee taken by the United States, so
that free trade in coffee with Great Britain
would not be q great advantage to Brazil, but
would seriously affect British relations with
item that pays duty, in which British trade
with Brazil amounts to anything, is cocoa, OF
which the imports were less than 100000
pounds. against over 100000 pounds taken
by the United States. Of tobacco British i'm
ports are insignificant from Brazil, and of cigars
only few thousand pounds, while dutiable I'M
ports of no other articles from that country
are large enough to be separately specified in
British official reports. At glance it is seen
that nothing adequate can be offered to Brazil
in exchange for the reduction of duty on
SO 900, 600 of manufactured products from
Great Britain. The American iron manufacture
already sends to Brazil a considerable part Of
| the machinery, railroad materials, and other
products of iron which are purchased by that
country and can largely increase the shipments
with the present advantage in duties.
| What has Great Britain, hampered by free
| trade policy, power to do in this emergency
The same difficulty will presently be met in
Cuba and Porto Rico, and influential English
men fear that most of the British colonies will
be tempted to make terms with the United
States. For the trade with this country is fan
larger and more profitable than with any Other
country in the world particularly for the coun
tries of Central America and for the West In.
dies, and they will not find it easy to refuse The
inducements held out to them under the new
Tariff Act. Great Britain can make no coun
ter proposal of importance, nor offer them in any
way important advantages in trade which they
do not now enjoy. Neither can it cut off thei
present facilities without abandoning in vita
respect the British policy of free trade, giving
up revenue derived from things which Grea
Britain does not produce, and being compelled
instead to propose duties that involve protec
ton to British industries. 1t will be interesting
to SEQ how the British Ministry manages to ac
in such an emergency.