New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-28
rECTpROCITY JtTrH 4 TSTHTA

The Harrison Administrations new diplo-
matte success in negotiating a Reciprocity
treaty with Austria Hungary offers practical
commentary upon Lord Salisbury's speech at
Hastings. The importation of bect-sugar from
that country was not large, being only 81 .G09-
PSI in 1890. when compared with SIG 00S, 224
from Germany but with the rate at which
the production of sugar is increasing on the
European Continent the Imperial Government
was convinced that it must have the American
market open for the surplus. Accordingly it
has consented in return for the free market for
its sugar to admit the United States to all the
advantages of the Zollverein arrangements re-
Gently made with Germany. Belgium and Italy.
What American manufacturers obtain is a re-
| ductOn of duties on a long and varied list of
products. The United States now has all the
advantages of preferential or minimum tariff
rates in Germany, France and .iustria-llun-
gary The imported sugar supply has been
made the lever for opening three great Eu-
ropcan markets for various classes of manu-
features and agricultural products
England is unable to enter into treaty en-
gagemcnts of this kind in any quarter. 1t is
the diplomatic ally of Germany, Austria Hun
gary and Italy on the Continent, but it cannot
secure admission to the IollvCrcin. IL cannot
negotiate commercial treaty with France and
it is powerless to make any preferential ar
rangemcnt with the United states. NS Lord
Salisbury has forcibly explained the situation,
there is n tariff league against England, and II
has neither armor nor weapons with which to
defend itself 1t is forced 10 remain an idle
spectator, while one tariff nation after another
is improving It's commercial relations and
driving good bargains for the worlds trade.
Under these circumstances, ii is not strange
that Lold Salisbury has reached the conviction
that Free Trade has been carried too far, and
that while devotion to the principles of Golden
may be noble, il is not busincsskc
The repeal of the sugar duties in England
and the United states illustrates two methods
of chcapening food. In England sugar has
been admitted to a free market Internationally
from every quarter. The result has been that
while the price has been reduced no advantage
has been taken OF the large market offered in
the United Kingdom. Bcct-Sugar from Bel |
GUM, Germany and France has been admitted |
on terms of equality with cane-sugar from tho |
East and West Indies. Under Free Trade IT |
is impracticablc for British manufacturers to
obtain any concessions for their exports in
return Tor the imported sugar supply. i nc !
United States has managed the business of re- |
peal in a more practical way. The sugar sup |
ply has been cheapencd, but vide-rcaching |
series of commercial concessions has been Sc
cured for various classes Of American exports |
from Brazil, the Spanish West Indies, the Brit
ISL West Indies, San Domingo, Hawaii, Ger |
many, France and Austria Hungary.
If England had adopted thirty years ago the |
bounty system employed in Germany, Austria
Hungary Belgium and France, it would have
had its own domestic supply of bcet-sugar.
When hcat-farming and other great agr
cultural industries We're ruined in the United |
Kingdom by the adoption Of Free Trade, it
would have been wise policy TO introduce
substitute for them, and this the cultivation of
the sugar-bcet would have been. As this was
not done, England remained dependent upon
It's foreign sugar supply and this has been
managed in such way that no commercial |
treaties can be based upon it. Germany France
and Austria Hungary meanwhile have dcvc-
Oped their sugar-making resources until there
is a large surplus for export and they are
prepared to enter into advantageous treaties
with the United States where repeal of the
sugar duties is regulated by the businesslike
policy of Reciprocity