New-York tribune., 1892-01-10
THE RECIPROCITY EARNING.

Tho Administration is treating the sugar ana
coffee countlic, with marked indulgence in en-
forcing the Reciprocity amendment. MeXlco'
Peru and France with which negotiations are
now pending with the prospect OF a SUCCESSFUL
issue. are allowed additional time for making
diplomatic arrangements for tho permanent re-
tcntion of the free market for coffee, sugar ana
hides Other countries are informed that the
Presidents PROCLAMATION eimposinS duties on
these products against them will be issued on
March 10 Virtually the term Of grace pro-
yidcd for in the amendment has been extended
for ten weeks. NOminally, this has been done
in order 20 give shippers and importers umeiy
warning Of the impending changes in the tarii
schedules; but practically they Will be lcft III
state OF uncertainty for ten weeks, since the
countries which have received oiilcla! notice may
make terms with the state Department at the
las. moment and avert the rempostiOn OF duties.
Undoubtedly tho Administration in defenlng tho
proclamation has been Influenced by an amlaoe
reluctance to bc placed in the attitude OF crowd
Ing any southern country out of the American
market II has acted generously in giving them
a final chance for making Reciprocity arrange
mcnt-.
The Administration would have bcen justified
in taking moIc summary action against enez-
uola where nothing is 10 be gained by delay.
Whether a new President is inaugurated there
in March or Anduosa succeeds in prOlonglng his
administration, it is not likely that any treaty
can be- negotiated during the next two months.
As there are other countries which may be IN
hucnccd by tho warning, the Administration mas
probably decided not to discriminate against
Venezuela but 10 give one and all an extension
ii time. Congress empowered the President %
close the free market after January |. Inc
uroclamation is announced for March 10. But
neither the Reciprocity amendment nor the warn
ing Of the proclamation is 10 be regarded as a
club held over the Southern countries. The
pan-Amcrican Conference recommended the ne
go,ia ion Of partial Reciprocity conventions
amons the Governments of this continent Con
prcss and tho Administration have acted upon that
recommendation. Those nations which are Will
ng 10 make an international trade will have the
free market for sugar, coffee and hides. Those
which decline to pay for it in concessions TO the
American export trade will be deprived of the
free market. Reciprocity does not imply coer-
ci,n on the part of tho United States. 1t Is
simply a matter of international barter.
II NAV be inferred from the Washington dis
patches already printed in THE TRIBUNE that the
Administration is grounding It's policy mainly
uon sugar and coffee importations. The countries
warned arc ia-lIungary and the Philippine
Islands which supply about per cent OF the
INN, red sugar; and Colombia, llayti Nca-
rlgrll, Honduras and Venezuela, which ship
coffee heavily TO this market. Uruguay, the
Argentine and Chill, from which large quantities
Of hides are drawn, have not been warned. 1t
NAV be that the Administration will not attempt
10 enforce the Reciprocity amendment against
those countries. They already import American
product, more heavily than the United states
imports their staples. The existing conditions
Of tIadc are not mfayOIable to the United States,
and stress cannot be- laid reasonably upon the free
market Offered for thoir hides when their own wool
and copper are subject to duty here. We have
always oon'cnded that tho Reciprocity amend
mcnt would have been strengthened il raw fibre
and rubber had been substituted for hides. The
free market for coffee and sugar is the real basis
for Reciprocity with Germany and tropical
America The results of the policy have been
very large and will be materially increased be-