The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01
I'LL EFFECTS OF THE TARIFF
A PAN-AMERICAN DELEGATE FROM
ARGENTINE PROCLAIMs SOME
STRONG TRUTHS.
WILL LOSE LATIN AMERICAN TRADE
Argentine Will be Forced to Sell,
and Therefore Buy, Goods in Eu-
rope, Where Their Products
Go Free of Duty.

Cincinnati, O., June 2S.-The most sig
nihcant feature of the tour of the Pan
American commercial men thus far was
the expression on the tariff made by one
OF the foreigners today. The speaker
was Carlis LiX Klett of Argentine Re-
public, editor of the most prominent news
paper In his country and specialist
in wool, hides and SKINS The place
where he voiced his views was the cham
Der of commerce. What he said follows
in part;
better opportunity to extend their COM
mercial relations than the one offered
bling noted business men of Latin Amer
lea, as my colleagues are. l 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 glad if the Argentine Repub-
lie should find herself in the same posi-
ton, but unfortunately our visit to the
United States and our good will are put
aside by the tariff bill that is now pass
ing 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 Argentine Republic in 1896
amounted to $11,214,475 The exports
from the Argentine Republic to the
United States amounted to $6.401 1862.
These official figures show the difference
country and mine OF $50O0,00O against
| the Argentine Republic. The two prin-
cipul products that we export to the
United States are wool and hides. We
have over hundred million sheep, which
produce every year about 250,0000 900
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 machinery and your petroleum.
| But now the new tariff bill has imposed
n prohibtiye tax upon our wool. We
nave been exporting to your country our
hides during the past twenty-five years
free of duty. But now you have taxed
| them l IL cents per pound, and you may
| consider how much the duty may effect
our trade when you think we have over
22,OO0OOO of oxen. We have been treat
ed in an unfriendly manner and at the
same time you submit to us the idea of
a reciprocity treaty. / am sorry to say
that under these circumstances states
men of the Argentine Republic will not
accept any kind of treaties, not only for
certain reasons that you can easily un
derstand, but because our productions, are
| exported free of duty to England, France,
Germany, Belgium and Italy and we re-
ceive from Europe all the goods we re-
al thc Cupitul thut we uctu LUZ
our commercial development and all the
immigration necessary to populate our ex-
tensive territory. AS we find no compen-
sation nor any reason to tie ourselves to
the United States under the present cir
cumstances. we think that, taking into
consideration the protectionst doctrine of
this country, we have nothing to do but
to use the same principle in our own de-
Tense and impose prohibtive duties upon
all the American goods that may be i'm
ported into the Argentine Republic. We
regret very much to take such action,
but we will be compelled to do so, and
it is convenient to note that Europe Is
trying by all means to hold the Latin
American markets and is sending agents
to all of the three republics to study the
resources of commerce and the financial
state of each. L think l am right when
| call your attention to the opportunity
that is afforded to you to control the
markets of Latin Americans, which Of
fers most extensive field for the con
sumption of your manufactured products