Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-25
A Notification Of the Abrogation of
the Reciprocity Treaty.
RESULT OF THE new TARIFF LAW
What Minister Mendonca Says on
the Subject.
B E n E F T TO BRA I'll

The Brazilian minister to the United
States. Mr.. Mendonca. has notified the
State Department that Brazil has abro-
gated the reciprocity treaty existing be-
tween the two governments, to take effect
January 1 next.
The reciprocity treaty was the principal
one negotiated by Secretary Blaine under
the provisions of the Mckinley tariff law
The repeal OF the Mckinley act by the re-
cent tariff law and the change in duties
rendered the existence of the treaty un-
necessary to Brazil.
All I'm Favor of Brazil.
As the case now stands, Brazil will have
everything to gain and nothing to lose. She
can impose such duties as she may deter
mine upon American products entering
Brazil, while, under our tariff laws, the
principal products of Brazil VIII continue
to come into the United States free of duty.
Thus, there will be no restriction by reason
of import duties upon Brazips products, but
she can squeeze American products to her
hearts content 1t Is considered very prob
able that the former duties levied by Bra
zil upon American products Will be reim-
posed.
The State Department claims 1t is not in
any way to blame for the abrogation of the
treaty. Under the terms of agreement,
either party can withdraw by giving notice
to the other, and Brazil. having found it to
her advantage to break the contract by rea-
son of recent tariff legislation by the Amer
lean Congress, has given the notice.
What Minister MendOnca Says.
Minister Mendonca received cable direc-
tions on Sunday to give the requisite notice.
The minister says the authorities in Brazil
had notified United States Minister Thomp-
son. at Rio. of this action on Saturday.
Senior Me1dolca said today: "Brazirs
action is necessary sequel to the enact
ment of the new tariff law by the United
States, and there is no significance in the
action of my country beyond it's doing it's
part toward terminating treaty which
the -arim law itself abrogateS. Brazil has
acted, however, in strict conformity to the
original agreement embodied in notes be-
tween MIR. Blaine and myself exchanged
when the treaty vas signed. These give
either country the privilege of renouncing
the treaty on July 1 or January 1 Of any
given year by giving three months notice.
The tariff law served to abrogate the treaty
without any notice to Brazil, but our gov
ernment saw fit to give the full three
months notice. The effect Is to make the
new tariff rates ezist against Brazilian i'm
reciprocity rates for American goods will
remain until JarLary / in Brazil"
Mr.. Mendonca was asked as to the effect
OF the change on trade.
The Treaty Worked Well.
THE reciprocity treaty worked very
WELL" said he. 1T was chiefly beneficial
to Brazil on sugar. Prior to 1t our sugar
had only the domestic market but the reci-
procity treaty gave us the United States
market. and as a result our sugar trade to
this country has tripled In the last three
years. 1t promised even greater increase
when the full benefits of the reciprocity
treaty were understood. Our coffee trade
which was another main item, will not
be affected by the change. On the part of
the United States the reciprocity treaty
gave advantages to this country on manu-
factured iron goods. railroad supplies, land
and agricultural products. The rates will
not be materially raised against this coun-
try, and / am expecting this country to
make large increase in sending manufac-
tured woolens to Brazil as a result of the
new woolen manufacturing induced by free
raw wool In the new tariff law. Outside of
these items few changes will occur by the
termination of reciprocity"