The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-25

tho outlook OF the Dominion's foreign trade.
especially when they view the situation in
the light OF the past two weeks. Very
rev Canadians seem to find any salts
faction In the contemplation OF the trade
probabilities OF the immediate future:
although thcre are. OF course. those who
think no sacrifice too great for the sake
OF the national policy OF commercial
isolation. One OF the principal causes
OF the present anxiety Is Canada's
West Indian trade. both British and Span
ish, and incidentally. but less directly. her
trade with Central and South American
countries. 1t is conceded that the trade OF
the Dominion with Cuba and Porto Rico
Will be affected very seriously by the opera
ton of the dcilnitive schedule for tho United
States. under our reciprocity treaty with
Spain. which went into effect in those
islands on the first OF tho present month.
succeeding tho provisional schedule which
had been in operation for n year previous to
that date. On the Same day tho British
commercial treaty with Spain, under which,
through the operation Of the favored nation
clause, Canada had enjoyed about the same
advantages in Cuban ports and in Porto Rico
as the United States had under the provis-
iouui SCituule, CdUlb W Ill euu, anu II new
schedule. largely Instantaneous to Cam
ada, went into effect.
The British West Indies and British
Guiana, too. have entered into reciprocal
arrangements with the United States, and
the new tariffs in force in those colonies,
while not openly discriminating against
Canada. arc arranged 80 rs to give to the
United States most OF tho trade. Brazil
and other countries in South America and
in Central America. where Canada had
built great hopes. have entered into rccip-
rocal relations with the United States also.
On top Of all this came the decision Of the
trade congress in London. from which Can
ada expected so much. which DESTROYED all
hope OF preferential treatment for Canada
In the British market. No wonder the
Canadians are inclined to DO very anxious
over the trade outlook
The outlook for Canadas trads with the
British West Indies and British Guiana Is
discouraging and unpleasant on account OF
the strenuous efforts tho Canadian Govern
ment made short time ago to preSmpt the
whole trade OF those colonies. and Sc
cure it. as its envoy proposed. " to the
total exclusion Of the United States" The
Hon. GEORGE E. FOSTER. Minister OF FL
nance. was the missionary. and his mission
was fiat failure. He made tour OF the
British colonies from British Guiana to ia
maica as the special representative OF the
Canadian Government. and through
conferences with tho colonial Govern
ments and in public meetings he
mado propositions for reciprocal rela-
tiors between the colonies individually
and Canada. Under the proposed arrange
ment Canada was to admit the sugar and
other products Of the colonies free. and in
return the colonies were to give special and
exclusive privileges to the Canadian cx-
porter. In fact tho proposition was Ito
secure tho British West Indian market to
Canada to the total exclusion OF the United
States" The colonists listened attentvely
and respectfully. but not enthusiastically.
to Mr.. FOSTER; then they began to ask per-
tinent and embarrassing questions about
the specific advantage of sacrificing a con-
vencnt market OF sixty-iive million people
for more distant one of five million; then.
without further parlcy they courteously
but very firmly declined Canada'5 propo-
sition, and shortly aftcrward entered into
reciprocal arrangements with the United
States under the MCKINLEY act.
Canada's export OF purely Canadian goods
to the British West Indies last year
amounted to Sl,74}.Oo0: to British Guiana.
S2l0.000. Her imports from the two sources
amounted to Sl.3Sj,OJO, making gross
trade of s3.33S.OD0. The United States did
about twenty times that amount OF bust
ness with those colonies. The probability
now Is that Canada trade will suffer very
much more and the United States will gain
more. Tho trend Of trade from tho Brit
ish West Indies is very largely toward tho
United States Barbados sells 81 per cent
OF her produce in the United States: and
of the large increase in tho trade OF tho
Bahama Islands last year. - per cent. was
gninel by tho United States. Canadas
sugar duties. too. are not So liberal as those
under tho MCKINLEY act. which will also
operate for Us and against her.
But tho outIooH is worst for trade with
Cuba and Porto Rico. When the British
treaty cane to an end on July /. Canadl
Commence t. export under tho minimum
Spanish tariff of 1872. In the Canadian
Comlaons two weeks ago Mr. Foster
said that under tho minimum tariff Clnala
does not obtain the same terms in Cuba and
Porto Rice rs the Unitcd States He ddrd
LHe nov NtlS SllISlNlhS lHIOTlnltlOn t,llJ
Canada gets is good forms as any natIon
other than the United States. Spain now
has two tariffs. u maximum for imports
from nations having no treaties with Spain.
and minimum fw countries that havo
treaties and make some concessions on
Spanish imports. Bat it has bc,n disrov-
cred that on May CLASSES of imports there
Is no difference between tho maximum and
at least cighty-five classes OF imports, and
in almost all these cases the dutirs are now
two to three times higher tAa,l those I'M
posed under tho former tariff. thu. of lS,l
Tho Manchester Chamber OF Commerce
protested to tho British Government
three weeks ago, and tho Government
made representations u the Spanish Gov
ernment. about the insunl lent motive In
regard to the important increase OF
duties upon imports into the West Indian
possessions of Spain" The Spanish Gov