New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-27
A NERICAN TRADE ~ MEAICO.
ITS SMALL VOLUME ACCOUNTED FOR By
THE FACT THAT DISTRIBUTION is IN
THE HANDS OF FOREIGNERS
CONFERENCES HE'LL


From The City Of Mexico Two Republics.
Some Of our contemporaries In the United states
are discussing the prestige which the success OF
American arms during tho recent war should bring
10 the countrys commercial relations special tei-
been made that the foreigners who are established
I'm Mexico are becoming quite jealous OF American
pride and vanity TO believe that some ones com
petitors are afraid jealous. because the inevita
tors Jealous or afraid is bound to consider himself
victor while the Other party Is piodding along ana
As a matter Of fact. Americans have nothing IN
the way Of business prestige TO crow over in Mex
leo Instead Of gaining ground. they are losing
T.. They do not control any part OF the trade OF
Mexico. and. while they apparently do more i'm,
porting into Mexico and take more goods ont Of
Mexico than all their principal competitors com
bned they are as rule WORKING nlo 'met i,,
The distribution Of merchandise I'm Mexico is 70
only very small degree in the hands Of Mexicans
This most important and most productive branch
Of commerce IS controlled by foreign capital. Amer
pete with Europeans In the Mexican dlstrloutlng
n,anufacturos dependent upon the goodwill Of
merchants whose interests are not identical WIN
thosc II the American manufacturer. and I'm that
way he consumption Of American goods Is very
Again all European business interests are pro-
vi1ed vItb banking facilities. and t. some extent
even consolidated with them. that are not only SUI
ncient for the handling of their own important ox-
mort bueness bu are i'm excess Of their own require
ments and have thus banklns prestige t9at gmIs
can trade Of no small weight. They are close TO
IN" consumer and know how 20 keep close 10 him:
while the American is a. rule only an occasional
visitor and remains foreigner for the Mexican
As result OF ali this. II NAV ne sateIy aSs'rt',,'
thu. the efforts to push American Industrial prod
ucfs I'm Mexico are ~ more benefit To the non
American interests in Mexico than to the Am@,-
cans themselves. and do not create awning ihe
a prestige Considering the numerical strength o.
Americans in this country and me fact ua'
yciopmcnt OF Mexico than all other natonali'ics
combined II is very significant that the pred9n-
nance Of American commerce TN Mexico Is whming;
During tho last fiscal wear. according 70 oinclhi
reports the total imports into Mexico rom ,'~L
many. Belgium. Spain. France and England whlch
countries represent the ion frnn
tho United States to 81 $685. During the pre,'H
ing fiscal wear the countries named imported SN
1900 aganst SO $3.50 imported rron me n' t5
YEAR 1859 The United States furnished over %
per cent II the imports they imported last year
Int a little over 30 per cont. $3.50.
This falling off in tmcrIcan lmp3r 1i,H %a :, =, S
or over a per cont o. which amount tHslNhr a3r
had e. e22 Gq5 As there are but very few fnGliSh
nortatinn comes as much from preference given
70 Tnrlieh goods by the distributing trade as from
rn~fsh producer and tho Mexican consumer N
The mater Of exports The imp, rtance Of the Tnited
ycar he exports TO the countries named roso from
81 500 ~ To- 500 so. gain of oyer y" per cent
rom sSi7i.93 - s9i.97'6e. gain - los Than
10 per cont This shows very d,Cidra loss IN"
The commercial and banking Interests ~ tho
United states will have TO study Mexiro as ear
tors have boon and are doing bofor" thor" can p"
any prospect Of American prestige IN Mexico ! ne
i,rers aud tho onterprsinc capitalists VIII"
invest American money in Mexican mines ain
.,nds aud arc developing Mexican production Tor
.vnor. corno. compete advantagcJusly with Euro
pcan colonists IN Mexico unless they got tn" bank
irf and commercial support tho latter arc having
md M ese this is done in the former Spanish cor"
mics II Is quito likely dat American prestige VIII
oven ,hero remain simply a phl;ical one. q mere
,oottor Of sentiment which Will make II ONLY NOR"
railing 10 American enterprise 10 see Itself on
ranked by the better organized OF European co'N
petition