Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-07

gary. OF these, those with duatenaia,
Salvador, the German Empire, Great
Britain, Nicaragua, Honduras and
Austro- Hungary have been conclud-
ed since my last annual message. Under
these treaty arrangements free favored
admission has been secured In every
case for an important list OF American
products. Especial care has been t. ken
to secure markets for farm products in
order to relieve that great underlying
industry OF the depression which the
lack of an adequate foreign market for
our surplus OF 10 brings. An opening
has also been made for manufactured
products that will undoubtedly, if this
policy is maintained, greatly augment
our export trade. The full benefits OF
these arrangements cannot be realized
instantly; new lines of trade are to be
opened; the commercial traveller must
survey the field the manufacturer must
adapt his goods to the new markets, and
facilities for exchange must be estab-
lished. This work has been well begun 4;
our merchants and manufacturers have
entered the new fields with courage and
enterprise. In the case of food products.
and especially with Cuba, the trade did
hot need to wait, and the immediate re-
suits have been most gratifying.
If this policy and the trade arrange.
ments can be continued in force and
aided by the establishment OF American
steamship lines, do not doubt we shall,
within short period, secure fully one
third of the total trade OF the countries
OF Central and South America, which
now am ounts to about 5000, ,000, COO. In
1865 we had only s per cent OF this
trade.
The following statistics shows the in
crease in our trade with the countries
with which we have reciprocal trade
agreements, from the date when such
agreements went into effect up to Sep
tenn Der 80, 1892, the increase being in
some almost wholly. and in others in an
important degree the result OF the agree
ment.
The domestic exports to Germany and
Austro- Hungary have increased in value
from $47 ,673, ,756 to $57 1904, an in
crease OF $l0,3l9, sos, an increase OF
2l.O3 per cent. To Central and South
American countries the amount OF our
exports has increased from $44, 100, 2o5
to $54 6l3 500, an increase of SIC, ,453 3l3,
or 23 67 per cent. The total increase in
value of exports to all the countries
with which we have reciprocity agree
ments, has been $20,772,671. This in
crease is chiefly in wheat, -four, meat
and dairy products, and manufactures
OF iron and steel and lumber. There has
been large increase in the value or I'M
ports from all these countries since the
commercial agreements went into effect,
amounting to $74, ,294 ,525, but it has
been entirely in imports from the Amer
ican countries, consisting mostly of
sugar, coffee, India-rubber and crude
drugs.
The alarmed attention OF our Euro.
pean competitors for the South Ameri-
can market has been attracted to this
new American policy, and to our acqui-
sition and their loss OF the South Amer
icAn trade.
BERING SEA ARBITRATION.
A treaty providing for the arbitration
of the dispute between Great Britain
and the United States as to the killing
OF seals in the Beripg sea was concluded
on the Goth of February last. This
treaty was accompanied by an agree
ment prohibiting peleglc sealing pend
ing the arbitration, and vigorous effort
was made this season to drive out all
poaching steamers from the Bering sea.
Six naval vessels, three revenue cutters,
and one vessel from the fish commits
sion, all under the command Of Com
mander Evans OF tae navy, were sent
into the sea, all the waters of which
were systematically patroled. Some
seizures were made, and it is believed
the catch in the Bering sea by poachers
amounted to less than 500 seals. 1t is
true, however, that in the Northern
Pacific, while the seal herds were on
their way to the Aleutian islands, a very
large number, probably $4,000, were
taken. Tne existing statutes of the
United States do not restrain our citl-
zens from taking seals in the Pacific
ocean, and perhaps should not until the
prohibition can be extended to the citi-
zens OF other nations.
l recommend that power be given to
the president, by proclamation, to
prohibit the taking of seals in the North
Pacific by American vessels, in case that
as the result of the findings OF the tri-
bunal of the arbitration, or otherwise,
the restraints can be applied to the ves-
sells OF all countries.
The case OF the United States for the
tribunal Of arbitration has been pre-.
pared with great care and industry by
the Hon. John w. Foster, and the cum
sci who represent this government ex-
press confidence that result substan-
italy establishing our claims, and pre-
serving this great industry to the bene-
iii OF all nations, will be attained.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA.
During the past year suggestion was
received through the British minister
that the Canadian government would
like to con fer as to the possibility OF
enlarging, upon terms of mutual advan-
tage, the commercial exchanges of
Canada and the United States, and a
conference was held at Washington,
with Mr.. Blaine acting for this govern
ment and the British minister at this
capitol and three members OF the do
minion cabinet acting as commissioners
on the part OF Great Britain. The con-
ference developed the fact that the
Canadian government was only pre-
pared to offer the United States in ex-
change for the concessions asked the
admission of natural products. They
made the statement that favored rates
could not be given to the United States
as against the mother country. This
admission, as foreseen, necessarily ter
minated the conference upon this ques-
ton The benefits of an exchange of
natural products would be almost
wholly with the people of Canada.
Other topics Of interest were consid-
cred in the conference and have re-
E1 tpI in, hn of