Washington sentinel., 1899-01-21
ENGLAND.
ARE THE PHILIPPINE AND CUBAN
MARKETS TO BE CLOSED TO
BIRTHS MARKETS?
Consular /0HYNaL

Some little while back it was an
nounced that the United States had de-
cided to adopt the, or rather "a" policy
OF the open door to their newly acquired
possession Of the Philippines, Cuba and
Porto Rico. This statement, we are
sorry to say, is by no means so univer-
sally accepted as 1t was when first made.
According to the first reports, the
United States was to levy the same
duties on all produce and manufactures
imported at the islands named, no
matter what their source of origin.
Acc ording TO this statement, the United
States manufacturers would be treated
on no more favorable terms than our
selves, for example. Cottons would be
taxed equally, whether they came from
Manchester or Boston; hard Eare would
be taxed at the same rate, whether it
had been manufactured in the shops Of
Pittsburg or Birmingham. Under the
circumstances, therefore, il was hardly
to be wondered at that the citizens Of
the United States did not accept as
authoritative such an exposition of
policy.
Such a procedure, it was argued, was
alt gether contrary to United States
procedure in general, and il prose ecuted
would prevent the citizens of the repub.
lie from reaping that commercial advan.
tage from the conquests of the Navy and
Army which was their due. In fact the
doubt as to the adoption of this policy
went further; it rapidly grew into open
hostility and veiled threats Of strenuous
opposition as TO what would happen
were not American goods admitted into
the conquered islands on more favor
able terms than the produce of other
nations. We are informed, from an
authoritative source, that the semi or
d mi semi official announcement Of the
"open door" policy was but trial fight
"a rumor purposely set IN motion to
feel the pulse OF the American nation.
II such be really the case, then there
can he no longer any doubt as the atti-
tude of the people Of the Republic upon
the matter. They are unanimous upon
the question-quite ready to develop
and Civilize the new possessiOns-bu
by means OF American manufactures,
&c. Others even go further and state
that the policy, from which we hoped
so much, would be altogether contrary
TO the United States COnstitutiOn on,
Whether this is really the case we can.
not say. But at any rate it would now
~awHafrN al ivrar from Ha
United States will be treated on terms
much more favorable than our own.
This is disquieting in the extreme,
for we have large busiress interests with
the Philippines, Cuba, and Porto Rico,
as Sheffield, Birmingham, and Man.
chester well know And this alarm. on
the principle that coming events cast
their shadows before, has already
communicated itself to British manu-
facturers, as will be seen from the
programme Of the Asso lated Chambers
of Commerce meeting to be held IN
March next. AT this important gathering
a resolution will be moved to the effect
that a memorial be presented to the
Prime Minister, praying that Her
Majesty's Government will enter into
negotiations with the Government of
the United States, so that British manu-.
facturers will not be subj ected to
ditferential customs and duties, &c
The fact that this resolution has been
drawn up, maybe taken as proof positive
that the United States means to secure
to itself the biggest share possible of the
Philippine and Cuban markets, Posi- bly,
we are taking too gloomy view Of the
situation. To put the most optimistic
construction, however, upon the present
position, the outlook is anything but
reassuring. We have a considerable
interest at stake and we stand to be
treated in the same manner as We have
been IN regard 10 our trade between
England and the United States,