, 1891-11-11


expect to see our produce placed among those
paying higher duties on Importation to Ameri-
ca, because we have no treaty, even though
American produce actually here enjoy those ad-
vantages alluded to; no treaty, no reciprocity.
And if steps can be taken by for instance Eng
land, why shall we not also follow? We are
in this respect very similarly situated to the
English Islands, for which their Mother coun-
try seeks the free importation in the United
States by a Treaty. If we have to pay that
diferential duty, the returns from our produce,
already small in themselves, would dwindle
down to a mere trihe, and we would be very
unfavourably situated. He also believed that
there is not much probability that the United
States under the given circumstances, will
apply to Denmark about a Treaty; but if we
want anything we must bestir ourselves, such
was his opinion and it appears strange to
him that all other countries are coming for
ward.
The Governor: No, those countries have
only acted after having been asked first by the
United States Government; he could not say
this positively about Sto. Domingo, but Euro
pean powers have been asked by the United
States Government, if they are prepared to act
IN the matter. Moreover it would not be po-
lite on the part of the United States Govern
ment when they are about to impose an add
tional duty on the produce from here, not to
inform the Danish Government beforehand
the contrary would not be in keeping with
international customs.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (Blackwo0d) considered it pretty GER
tain that Denmark will not be asked by the
United States to take off the duty on American
produce into Danish ports, and notwithstand-
ing the fact that it cannot be said; that we
hnro n0IrA
duce, still it is within the province of the
President of the United States to collect a
higher duty OIL all sugars from this island i'm
ported into the United States after 1st Janua-
ry 1892, in virtue of the Nc. KinIey bill. The
United States Secretary of State says, foreign
sugars free here; American wheat free in
foreign ports; and this is the reason why the
foreign States are coming forward; and the
United States will accept where necessary the
principle of reciprocity. 1t is beyond a doubt
that for instance England has herself taken
the initiative and the negotiations are still on
foot.
The Governor would in reply beg to refer to
what he had already stated, that the United
States already enjoy here such advantages as
they seek to secure by treaty there is no COM
petition in the market here with produce from
there; the importers fix their own prices on
such produce, and we import nearly all our
supplies from the United States. He would
admit that it would be a loss to the Island to
lose the American market, therefore every
thing possible will be done to keep it open;
but he could see no danger in the direction
mentioned. an additional duty could not be i'm
posed in the United States on our produce,
without our knowing it beforehand.
Bird Member for Freder.kSted's Country Dis
trict (Hewitt) said: AS far as he could see, this
is rather a serious matter for st. Croix. AS far
as His Excellency has explained the MAJ
ter, it would be all right, if facts bore out His
Excellency; but, he thought, there is a little
difference between matters as they are and as
His Excellecy represents them. In the first
place, when His ExcelIency spoke of the
United States addressing themselves first to
Denmark on the matter of a reciprocity treaty,
he would beg to say, that the United States
have addressed themselves already to the
whole world in a public manner through the
Tariff Bill, and from the LIST. January next
parties have their option. We are exactly
IN the same position as the English Westindia
Islands, and he would beg to call attention to
the part taken by the Government of Great
Britain it is true for instance in some of the
British colonies it might be said that there is
a hostile tariff existing, and which strictly
speaking is not in existence here in st. Croix
but because, as His Excellency says, American
produce commands the market here, on account