Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-30
RECIPROCITY WANTED.
MOre Treaties Still to Be Made Under
Blaine'S Direction.
SOME RATHER KNOTTY PROBLEMS.
John ", Foster Is in Charge Of the Actual
Negotiations.
THE CLAIMS OF PRESIDENT HARRISON

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Secretary Blaine
finds, on his return to business, the threads
Of the reciprocity negotiations pretty well
gathered up in the hands of John W. Fos-
ter, who has done most practical work on
them from the first. There has been some
delay during the summer, caused by the abb
sence of the Ministers of the Southern coun-
tries in Europe or at the summer resorts,
but events are soon likely to move at a
more lively pace. Two of the three South
ern countries having the greatest aggregate
foreign trade have been dealt with by the
treaties with Brazil and Spain.
The countries of the most importance re-
naming to be treated with are the Argez-
tine Republic, Mexico, Chile, the British
West Indies, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Delegates from Barbados and Trinidad, the
two most important of the British West In
dies, are expected here shortly to confer
with Sir Julian Pauncefote and the State
Department The aggregate foreign trade
OF the British West Indies is Sol, 702, Ill, of
which Barbados and Trinidad have So, 331,
672. These are the figures for 1889, the
latest which have been compiled by the
Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Depart
ment The trade of these two islands with
the United States, however, is less than
with Great Britain, and our exports to them
are considerably smaller than our imports
from them.
Secretary Blaine and Mr.. Foster hope to
remedy this state of things by reciprocal
agreement which will open the markets of
the island on favorable terms to our pro-
ducts.
WHERE TREATIES WILL BE SOUGHT.
The countries with which treaties will be
especially sought, in addition to those
already made, are Mexico, Venezuela,
Colombia and Peru.
Negotiations with Mexico are going on at
the Mexican capital between our Minister,
Nj RYAN, and a special delegate appointed
by the Mexican Government for this pur-
pose, Senior Jose Ives Limantour, and he is
expected in Washington early ih the winter
10 talk with Secretary Blaine and with
Senor Romero, the Mexican Minister. If a
treaty is made with Mexico it will be out
side the narrow limits of the Mckinley
bill for Mexico does not export enough
sugar, coffee or hides to justify opening her
markets TO American commerce in return
for the placing OF those articles on the free
list.
Treaties will probably be made with
of their large exports of coffee to this coun-
rrv. The Government of Venezuela was
the first to propose reciprocity after the
passage of the Mckinley bill, but a final
agreement has been delayed by the prompt
ness Of Minister Peraza in accepting the
first propositions of the State Department,
which went a good deal further than the
Esnezuelan Government was ready to go or
Mr.. Blaine expected them to go.
\
Venezuela, is now in Washington and will
take back to Venezuela modified PROPOSE
tions, which will probably be promptly ac-
cepted.
The negotiations with Colombia are in
charge of Minister Abbott, our representa-
tive at the Colombian capital, and he is
hopeful of satisfactory results. Our trade
with Peru is not important either to imports
or exports, but ex-Mayor Grace, of New
York, and some other gentlemen having
business interests in Peru are trying to ar
range q treaty which may be of some
benefit
A KNoTTY PROBLEM.
The question whether the President will
reimpoSe duties on hides from Uruguay
and the Argentine Republic if no reciproc-
i-v treaty is under way before January 1,
1892, is one that is likely to cause consid-
cradle worry in the Cabinet. The Presi-
dent probably would not care to express an
opinion on the subject until after the cleo
tions, because of the uproar it would cause
IN New England to learn that the raw ma
terials of the boot and shoe trade, which had
been free Of duty for nearly 20 years, were
10 he made dutiable.
There is no prospect of a treaty with the
Argentine Republic, for her treasury is de-
pleted and she probably would not suffer
seriously if she lost the trade with the
United States. She sends only IS, AL, ,2O2
in hides and skins TO this country. while
sending S13, 800, 1S5 to France, S4,1S1, 937 to
Belgium, Sl,954, ,694 to Germany, s., ,318, 1888 |
20 Italy, Sl,ojS, 741 to Spain and S97S, ,634 to
Great Britain.
The return of Secretary Blaine seems to
have been the signal for renewal of the |
wrangie between his friends and those of
the President as to which is entitled to the |
credit Of the scheme of reciprocity The Pres
ldent appears to be renewing the effort
which he made during his Western tour to
claim the credit for himself, in the face of
his sneer at Mr.. Blaine's scheme in the |
message in which ne transmitted it to Con-
gress.