New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-22
danger of having neither voice nor consdera-
tion with any party.
RECIPROEITY UITH MEAICO.


The House Committee on Foreign AhaIrs
ha, shown little tact in its report in favor OF
Reciprocity with Mexico. Ii recommends the
passage of a resolution providing for the APP
pointmcnt of n joint commission for negotiating
a Reciprocity Treaty, but imposing an unneces-
sary. restriction upon the Presidents acton III
taking the initiative He is not to appoint
commissioners on the part of the United states
until Mexico shall have signfed its willingness
70 enter into negotiations and has nameu us
commissioners This is most unfortunate
method of making advances to friendly la
lion. which was wantonly affronted Jew years
AGO after il had ratified similar conventloi'
The Grant Romero convention was nesou-
ated under direct authority from Congress
Mexico had not solicited the treaty, but III
RESPONSE TO pressing invitations from the
American side reluctantly consented TO take
part in the negotiations. When the treaty was
signed Mexico ratified it, but the United states
Congress rcpudiatcd lis own policy Inc treaty
was hung up in Washington for several years
and was finally rejected in consequence OF nos
file action of the Democratic House. Which
virtually declared that Mexico was too poor a
country 10 make il worth while for rich coun-
fry like the United States To trade with II. II
the door was slammed in the face OF me Sou'h-
crn republic after it had been lmportuned 10
attend diplomatic feast for which 1t had no
annette. insult was added TO injury by the
contemptuous manner in which the treaty was
rejected. Naturally intense resentment ana
irritation were caused beyond the border. and
much sensitivcncss still remains. The Com
Toir instead Of 1lIaylnQ
wounded susceptbilitics by its method OF pro-
ccdure intcnsifcS them by the implication that
Mexico must take the initiative and that the
President should wait until it offers evidence
of good faith before appointing American
Commissioners The country which ratlhed
the previous convention is not the one 10 make
the advances Evidences Of good faith and
sincerity are required. not from Mexico but
from the United States. which rejected the
Grant Romero Treaty after importuning Mexico
TO consent to II.
The House Committee in favoring an en-
largemcnt Of the present basis for negotiations
with Mexico discloScS its hostility To the Me
Kinlcv Tariff Act rather than It's sympathy
with the Reciprocity policy. 1t recommends
the admission of free wool and free lead ores
a, a concession which may properly be made.
There i, no evidence that Mexico is ds>atiN-
fled with the exclusion Of It's low grade ores
nor especially anxious to secure market for
its mcagrc supply Of wool. Whatever may be
its real wishes. il cannot be drawn into new
Reciprocity Treaty by such awkward proposals
rs those formulated by the House Committee
II Congress desires 10 facilitate the ncgolla
ton of a large measure of Reciprocity, let II
take immediate steps for securing the appoint
mont of an American Commission without seek
ing to make political capital out of it or TO
force Mexico 10 declare its policy in advance
When a nation has been cntrappcd into treaty
and then roughly aifrontcd it cannot be de-
pended upon - make the advances in new
negotiations.
The TRIBUNE i not opposed To a large Reel
procity Treaty with Mexico. On the contrary.
il has repeatedly asserted that the Aldrich
amendment offered too narrow basis for salts
factory Negotiations and that the treaty max
crs must go outside Of IT, But such conven-
ton as we would like to have cannot be drawn
ND b. tariff -smashcrs in Washington IL must
Ice negotiated lay trained negotiatorS on equi-
table conditions of Reciprocity. Nothing was
gained for American trade two years ago by
opening u free market for raw fibre without
bargaining for compensating advantages in re-
turn The concession Of free market for low
grade ore would be equally Improbable unless
large compcnsaiionS were obtained for il.