New-York tribune., 1892-01-08
THE RETALIATORY CLAUSE.


MR.. BLA1NES NOTES TO REPRESENTATlNES OF
COUNTRIES IMPOSING UNREASONABLE
TARIFFS on AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
Washington. Jan I'm view of the provision
in the reciprocity section of the Tariff law Of
October l. 1890 making it the duty Of the Presi-
dent, after January l. s92, to suspend by procla
nation the free admission OF sGgars, molasses,
coffee, tea and hides, in the case of such coun-
tries producing these articles as after that date,
maintain tariff duties upon American agricultural
and other products which he may deem unequal
and unreasonable. the President submitted TO the
Auorney-Gencral the question whether the law
authorized him 70 issue a proclamation liking a
future day when the duties imposed BY virtue Of
the proclamation would take effect The Attorney
General has given an opinion that the duties
must attach and be collected on and after the
date of the proclamation, and that future day
cannot be named by the President.
Owing to this decision and to the fact that
justice to importers of the articles named in
Section of the Tariff law requires that reasonable
notice should be given of the Presidents intended
action, Secretary Blaine to-day sent notes to the
diplomatic representatives in this city of Austria
Hungary, Colombia, lIayti, Nicaragua, Honduras.
Spain lior the Philippine Islands, and Venezuela
informing them that on March IL next the Prcsi-
u'ub Noulu lS>uc HIS III bilS
meantime some satisfactory reciprocity arrange
mcnt should be made with the countries named
declaring that, in view of the free admission of
the articles named in Section of the tariff, the
product of those countries, he deemed their tariffs
on the agricultural and other products of the
United States to be reciprocally unequal and un-
reasonable and that in the of the
countries named he would issue his proclamation
March - next suspending tine provisions of the
Tariff law relating to the free introduction into
the United States of sugars, m0laSscs. coffee, ten
and hides the product of exported from such
countries and that and after that date the
duties fixed in Section would be imposed on
those articles The notice to Spain. however,
only applies to the Philippine Islands.
Negotiations with France and some other cOun-
tries have reached such a stage in the opinion
of the President, 10 warrant tie Secretary Of
State in Withholding notice TO them of a procla-
nation affecting their products. The following
is the full text of Secretary Baine's note to the
Minister of Venezuela, aud the Others are in
similar terms
Department Of State, Washington, Jan. :. 1892.
Sir: am directed by the President again bring to
your attention the provisions Of the tariff law of the
Congress OF the United states approved october |,
1870. in which provision made for admission into
the United states. FREE Of all duty, OF the following
articles. to VII:
All sugars not above NO 10 Dutch standard in
color, mola>sc,. coffee, tea and hides. In section
OF this IL is declared that these rcmisSlons Of duty
made with view T. reciprocal trade with
countries producing those articles and It is provided
that and after the 1T day Of January
.02 whenever and often a. the President shall
be satisfied that the Government Of any country
producing and exporting sugars moasses, coffee tea
and hid'' raw and uncuied. or any Of such articles
imposes duties or other cNactions upon the acrl-
CULTURAL other products OF the United states
which. "a view Of The free Introduction Of such sugar.
molas,cs. coffee, tea and hide, into the United States
ho may deem 10 be redprocaly unequal and nm
reasonable be shall have the power and It Is his
duty 10 suspend by proclamation 20 that effect the
provision, ~ this act relating to the free Introduction
~ such sugar mola-ses. coffee ta and hides. the
production of such country for such time he shall
deem jusi. and In such case and during such suspen
sion dutle, shall be levied, collected and paid upon
sugar. mola,,c> coffee. tea and hides. the product
of or exported nom ,lch designated country at the
rates ,et forth in said section 3.
| further directed bv the President to inform
you that In vew Of the free Introduction into the
rnitcd states oi the articles named. the product OF
Ncrckuen. h. deems the duties IMPOSED upon the
agricultural and other products OF the United -
ON their Introduction into Venezuela. to be- rccprocay
unequal and unreasonable. and that. unless on or
bcf r. the 10Th day Ot Murh next satisfactory
commercial arrangement Is entered upon between the
Government OF the United States and the Government
4 Venezuela. unless some action is taken by the
latter Government whereby the unequal and unr'a-
sonabc state Of the trade relations between the two
countries j. removed. the President will tho date
last named Issue his proclamation SnNp"nding the
provisions Of the Tariff law cited, relating 10 the
free Introduction = sugar, molaSseS coffee. tea ami
hides the production Of Venezuela and during such
sl. pension the duties set forth I'm Section OF sail law
,han be levied, collected. and paid upon sugar.
molasscs. coffee. ten and hides. the product Of
G cNportcd r. IN Nenczucla
IN asking you to transmit to your Government the
foregoing information desire TO repeat the assurance.
which has been given to yOu and Your Government at
varcu, times since the enactment Of the law cited. Of
fhe earnest ire of this Government 10 maintain with
Vcnczuol1 the most intimate and friendly trade rcla
tone and express the hope that may Yet be en-
powered by your Government 10 cEter with me upon
a commercial arrangement rcciprocay equal and
mutually advantageous.
Accept, sir, ETC.. JAMES &. BLAINE
Senior Don Nicanor Boet Peraza. Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister PlcnpOtcntiiry Of Ncnencla
The notes referred TO above were considered and
si-ncd by NJ. Blaine at ht home this afternoon.
! General J. w. Foster spent some time in consulta-
fion with him on the subject.