The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-04
SEEKING RECIPROCITY.
British Want Treaties with West In
din Possessions.

dia Possessions.
WASHINGTON, Nov. "a dispatch from
London says the British ambassador to the
United States, Sir Julian Pauncefote, has
been instructed to ascertain the views of
the government of the United States in re-
gard to a reciprocity treaty with the West
Indies.
1t has been known in Washington for
some time that the West Indian possessions
of Great Britain wer~ urging the home gov
eminent to secure them all the reciprocity
advantages possible under the Dingley act.
The initiative was taken by British Guinia,
where the High Court or Colonial Legisla-
ture unanimously adopted resolution re-
questing the authorities at London to in
struct the British ambassador at Washing
ton to secure all the advantages offered
other countries in the line of reciprocity
The debate in the High Court brought out
the statement that the sugar industry of
the colony which is the chief one, was
dependent to a large extent on the Ameri-
can market, the shipments to the United
States exceeding those to all other countries
combined. 1t was also stated during the
debate that the Dingley act would permit
a reciprocity arrangement under which
British Guina could continue her shipment
of sugar to this country. Without the rec
iprocity arrangement, it was stated in the
debate, South American sugar production
countries would secure contTOl OF the Amer
lean market, and the industry of British
Guina would be crippled, if not destroyed
Before the debate closed the government
secretary announced that Sir Augustus
Hemmlng, the governor general of the col
ony, had already called the attention of the
London authorities to the subject. In view
of the resolution, however, the governor
general supplemented his previous action
by notifying the foreign office of the action
of the Colonial Legislature. 1t was under
stood that the other I3ritish-American COL
onies would take similar action. The in
structiOns now issued to Sir Julian Paunce-
fote are in response to these appeals from
The British colonies, which secured rec
iprocity treaties under the Mckinney law
were: Barbados, Guina; Jamaica, Lee
ward islands, Trinidad and WlndWard ISL
ands. The treaties were negotiated between
Sir Julian Pauncefote and Mr.. Blaine on
Feb. l. 1892, and President Harrison put
ton. In that case the British government
acted for the colonies, but subsequently
each colony passed law carrying the rec
iprocity arrangement into effect The same
procedure would be observed in the present
case. No reciprocity treaties We're made
for the British possessions of the Bahamas
Bermuda or British Honduras, as it was
found that there were no articles on which
reciprocal exchange could be made. The
aggregate trade of these British colonies
is very great, exceeding that of some of
the first-class nations. When the last trea-
ties were made the exports of the colonies
were $3S 100000 annually and the imports
about the same. The main shipments 70 the
United States were: Sugar, $4,000 fruits.
So 100000; coffee. $4,000; cocoa. $S00.000
ments from the United States to the colo
MES were mainly bread stuffs. provisions
manufactures of iron, steel and wood and
cotton.
The government is now favorably con-
sidering the question of recurring to the
system of reciprocity for encouraging our
c.>n relations fc
known that Mr.. Kasson, who has been
specially charged with the arrangement of
reciprocity plans under the new tariff act
is friendly to such a course of action. The
last reciprocity treaty which governed the
relations of the two countries was termi-
rated by act of Congress on the assumption
that the benefits were equally divided be-
tween them and that Canada had the ad-
vantage.