Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-06-24
WORKINGS OF RECIPROCITY.
A Rosy View Of the Future IRON the Secretary
Of States office.

WASHINGTON, June 22.-fhe acting see
retar, of stat, has scnt to the Senate "A vo-
luminous reply to resolution passed some
weeks agu as 10 the practical effect" of the
the reciprocity negotiations. II was accom-,
pauied by statistical table, showing the pop
ulatnu and commerce of the countries and
colonies with which reciprocity arrange
ments have been concluded, and the growth
of trade between them and the nitcd
States since what is known rs the Fan
American movement began in 1851,
Copies of all the agreements are also
submitted. The communication says
1t is prope, to suggest that the practi-
cal effect of these arrangements cannot be
measured by the commerce of a month or II
wear for the result must depend not alone
upon the character of the concessions
secured by diplomatic negotiations, but on
the degree to which they are utilized b,
private commercial enterprise Trade is a
plant OIL slow growth sensitive to surround
ing conditions, and to realize 20 the full cx-
tent the advantages obtained for their bcne-
III by the government the merchante AMI
manufacturers of this country must seek
aud cultivate the markets of foreign lands
with the same intelligence and energy that
have developed and extended our internal
commerce.
Their European rivals are intreuchcd
in the markets of the southern countries
by the experience of II century. We have
thus had practically little direct trade with
many of the countries, hut. because of the
lack of facilities. have been compelled to
pay our commercial rival a heavy tax upon
every ton of commerce that has passed be
tween the other American republics AMI
colonies and ourselves, Before the full re-
suit of the reciprocity arrangements can be
realized we must provide the means OF
transacting our own business independent
of the ships and banks and capital of our
commercial rivals. All this requires time
| and patience wise legislation On the part of
Congress and energetic and systematic effort
| among those for whose benefit the conces-
sions secured have been intended.
| That The advantages are recognized anil
| appreciated Is already apparent by the IN
i"rcs, that has been awakened among the
industrial and commercial communities of
this country by the enlarged passenger
! lists of outgoing steamers and by the more
frequent use of the mail facilities already
existing between the United States AMI
southern ports. The presence of CONNER
cidl travellers from the I 'niicd States in the
/ lFdtin hHhIitHU illHTkIIN mas bffH tiNlbFt
universally followed by increased sales, AMI
permanent business relations nowhere have
been more cordially welcomed, but hereto
fore their numbers have bren few aud their
visits inircquent.
| Although for the reasons above stated
| il is scarcely just to measure, the result.
/ that have or may come from the advantages
afforded by the reciprocity negotiations, i,
e.. a.
been considerable increase in our export
and that there is good reason 10 expect that
1t will continue and be permanent. II will
b" noticeable. tor, that the exports iroiu
Grpa, Britain to the Latin American conn.
tries are falling of with even greater rppi'l
ity 50 much SO as to excite the apprcnsiou
of her commercial organization and impcl
them To seek some means of protection
from the government.
| The acting secretary gives In detail facts
and figures showing the operation of the
F.. reciprocity arrangements with Brazil, Cuba.
| Puerto Rico, San Domingo and the British
West Indian colonies aud concludes ~ fol
lows:
The enactment of the reciprocity see
with the meat inspection act, conferred
gotiation, TO very promptly secure the
repeal of the prohibition upon American
pork, which for ten years had practically
excluded that important product from
most of the continental countries Of Eur
opc. But i, not only brought. about this
result; it likewise enabled the Executive
to negoilatc a reciprocity arrangement, first
with Germany and aftcrward with Austria.
by which i'm r,turn for the auynis siuu tutn
the United States of sugar, we obtain in
return the admission into the United States
Ct countries ut reduced duties of large
list of American agricultural and other
products.
Negotiations upon ia" lines of section
three Of th" tariff act have been in pro
gress in the City Of Mexico between the
| nited Statps minister and "A special com
missioner of the Mexican government, but
50 far no satisfactory resnlt has been Oh
tanned