The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06
COM NJ ERCE.
Conventions of Reciprocity Under the
Last Tariff Act.

Conventions of Reciprocity Under the
Last Tariff Act.
The fourth section of the tariff act
approved July "a, 1897, appears to pro-
vide only for commercial treaties which
should be entered into by the president,
also ratified by the senate within two
years from it's passage Owing to de-
lays inevitable in negotiations of this
nature no treaties negotiated under that
section could be concluded in time for
ratification by the senate prior to its
adjournment on the 4th of March, last.
Some of the pending negotiations, how
ever, We're near conclusion at that time,
and the resulting conventions have since
been signed by the plenipotentiaries.
Others within both the third and fourth
sections of the act are still under con-
sideration. Acting under the constitu-
tional power of the executive in respect
to treaties, | have deemed it my duty
while observing the limitations of con-
cession provided by the fourth section
to bring to a conclusion all pending ne
gotiations and submit them to the SEN
ate for its advice and consent.
Conventions of reciprocity have been
signed during the congressional recess
with Great Britain for the respective
colonies of British Guiana Barbados,
Bermuda, Jamaica and Turks and Cal
cos islands and with the republic of
Nicaragua. r-,
Important reciprocal conventions have
also been concluded with France and
with the Argentine Republic.
Industrial Data.
In my last annual message the prog
resS noted in the work of the diplomatic
and consular offices in collecting infor-
nation as to the industries and COM
merce of other countries, and in the
care and promptitude with which the
reports We're printed and distributed,
has continued during the past year.
with increasingly valuable results in
suggesting new sources of demand for
American products and in pointing out
the obstacles still to be overcome, facili-
tating the remarkable expansion of our
foreign trade. 1t will doubtless be
gratifying to congress to lsarn that the
various agencies of the department of
state are cooperating in these endeav-
ors with zeal and effectiveness, which
are not only receiving the cordial rec
ignition of our business interests, but
are receiving the emulation of other
governments. In any arrangement of
the complicated work of obtaining Off
cial data of an economic character
which congress may undertake it is
most important, in my judgment, that
the results already secured by the eff
forts of the department of state should
be considered with a view of judicious
development and increased utility to
our export trade.
The interest taken by the various
states forming the international union
of American republics in the work of
it's, bureau is evidenced by the fact that
for the first time since it's creation in
1890 all the republics in Central and
South America are now represented in
it, The unanimous recommendation of
the International American conference
providing for the international union
of the American republics stated that it
continue in force during a term of 10
wears from the date of its organization
and no country becoming member CT