The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-29
SEEMS TO BE HIT HARD
SPEECH OF A LATIN-AMERICANW WHO
DOESN'T LIKE OUR TARIFF.
He Intimates the Argentine Republic
VIII RetaIiate Because of the
Duty on Wool and Hides.

CINCINNATI June 28.-The most sig
nificant feature of the tour of the Pan
American commercial men thus far was the
expression on the tariff question made by
one of the foreigners to-day. The speaker
was Carlos Liz Klett of the Argentine
Republic, editor of the most prominent
newspaper in his country, and a specialist
in wool, hides and skins. The place where
he voiced his views was the Chamber of
Commerce. What he said follows in part:
'FThe United States have never had bet
ter opportunity to extend their commercial
relations than this one offered by the Phil
adelphia museums, in assembling noted
business men of Latin-America, as my col
leagues are. 1 am perfectly sure that all
of the delegates are inspired with the best
wishes in regard to closer relations with
the United States, and I should feel very
glad If the Argentine Republic should find
herself in the same position, but, unfor-
tunately, our visit to the United States and
our good will are put aside by the tariff
bill that is now passing in your Congress,
and whose result will render difficult the
realization of closer commercial relations
with Latin America. The imports from the
United States to the Argentine Republic in
1896 amounted to $11,214,475. The exports
from the Argentine Republic to the United
States amounted to Sc. 401, 1862. These Of
tcial figures show the difference in the
commercial balance between your country
and mine Of $5000.000 against the Argentine
Republic. The two principal products that
we export to the United States are wool
and hides; we have over one hundred mil
lion sheep, which produce every year about
two hundred and fifty million kiloS of wool,
and this article has always been Imported
into the United States free of duty, the
same as we import free of duty your ma
chinery and your petroleum. But now the
new tariff bill has imposed a prohibitive
tax on our wool. We have been exporting
to your country our hides during the past
twenty-five years free of duty. but now
you have taxed them with ~ cent per
the duty will affect our trade when
you think we have over twenty
two millions of oxen. We have been treated
in an unfriendly manner. and at the same
procity treaty. 1 am very sorry to say
that under these circumstances the states
men of the Argentine Republic will not ac-
cept any kind of treaties, not only for GER
tain reasons that you can easily under
stand, but because our productions are ex-
ported free of duty to England France,
Belgium and Italy, and we receive from
Europe all the goods we require, all the
capital that we need to populate our COM
ton necessary to populate our extended
territory. AS we find no compensation, nor
any reason, TO tie ourselves to the United
States under the present circumstances, we
think that, taking into consideration the
protectionist doctrine of this country we
have nothing to do but to use the same
principle in our own defense and impose
prohibitive duties on all the American
goods that may be imported into the Ar
gentine Republic. We regret very much to
take such action, but we will be compelled
TO do So and 1t is convenient to note that
Europe is trying by all means to hold the
Latin-American markets, and is sending
people to all of the republics to study the
resources, the commerce and the financial
state of each. think I am right when I
call your attention to the opportunity that
of Latin America, which offers a most ex9
tensive field for the consumption of your
manufactured products"