Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-29
TO INCREASE TRADE
Reciprocity Negotiations With the
Jamaica Commission.
ARRANGEMENTS NEARLY CONCLUDED
London viii Promptly Signify Its
Approval.
KEEPING DETAILS SECRET

A reciprocity arrangement between the
| United States and the British colony of
Jamaica will be concluded this week or
| early next week. The delegates from Ber-
muda have already left Washington with
| copy of an agreement in their pockets for
submission to the local legislature. Action
must be taken by the local government OF
the British dependencies in both these
cases before July a, in order to bring them
within the limitations of the Dingley law,
which was approved on July "a, 1897, and
| required arrangements for reciprocal trade
| to be made within the period of two years
from and after the passage of this act
This provision has been Interpreted at the
State Department requiring the sigma
| ture of the representative of the British
| government to the agreement in order to
give it binding force. The attitude of the
| London foreign office is that approval of
| reciprocity arrangement on behalf of any
| colony will be given promptly upon the
| ratifica ton of the arrangement by the
| colonial legislature. The negotiations
| which have been going on for the past few
| weeks have been nominally conducted di-
| rectly by the charge d'affaires of Great
| Britain, who acts for Ambassador Paunce-
| fote in the absence of the latter. The dele
| gates from Jamaica have been present only
| as advisers. but 1t has been the intention
| of the British government in accordance
| with its usual liberal policy, that the ad-
| vice of the Jamaica delegates shall be ac-
cepted in every detail unless it goes be-
yond the reasonable limits of imperial poll
| cy and grants preferences against Great
| Britain of a serious character.
Concessions to This Country.
1t was supposed when the delegates came
| here that concessions could be made
| upon the products of the United States en-
tering Jamaica which were not granted
| also to the products of the united kingdom.
| The economic situation in Jamaica is so
| serious. however, owing to the closing of
| the market for sugar by means of the com
| petition of sugar from bounty paying coun-
| tries, that the British government consent
| ed at the last moment to seriously discuss
| some special concessions to the United
| States which are not granted to the united
| Kingdom The Jamaica government cannot
! make large concessions without destroying
| the balance or the colonial budget. since
| their tariff is essentially for revenue pur-
| poses. The effort has been made, therefore
| to make concessions upon classes of ar
| tlcleS where the price would be directly af-
| fected by the tariff and reduced prices
| would be likely to lead to increased impor-
| tationS.
| Among the articles selected for this policy
| have been sailed and canned meats which
| are largely used by the laboring classes in
| Jamaica. The United States on their part
| have promised a reduction upon sugar and
| oranges and grape fruit from the British
| colony.
May Admit Coffee Free.
| There is talk of giving an assurance that
| coffee shall not be removed from the free
| list, when imported from Jamaica, for the
| period of five years. The authority to make
| an agreement of this character was grant
| ed directly by section four of the Dingley
| law. A high grade of coffee has been pro-
| duced to a certain extent in Jamaica of
| which the entire product has been invoiced
| TO England at good price. The destruc-
| ton of the sugar industry is leading to ex-
| perinents with larger plantations of coffee
| and an assurance of free entry into the
| United States for five years might greatly
! encourage Jamaica planters. The pledge
would have special value If Brazil should
| fail to make the concessions which have
| been asked of her by our government and
| the President should decide 10 levy the duty
| of three cents per pound upon Brazilian
| coffee which he is directed to do when he
| is satisfied that any country producing that
| article is not granting fair equivalent to
| the United States.
| Concessions on Tobacco.
| Tobacco is another article which is the
subject of experiments in Jamaica and
| which is likely to become an important
product in the island in the future a small
| concession upon tobacco is under considera-
| ton between Special Commissioner kasson
| and the delegates from Jamaica. 1t is not
| agreement in advance of the action of the
| two governments. Special Commissioner
kassan would like to keep the arrange
ments secret until it goes to the Senate
for approval next December The Jamaica
ENJOYS have assured him of their aid in
| this matter, but they anticipate some diff
ficulty in keeping the secret after the text
| of the arrangement is laid before the colon
| al legislature upon their return to the is
land. 1t will be submitted in executive ses-
| sion and the effort will be made to rush rat
| fication through the legislature with as
| little debate possible 1t will hardly be
| practicable to keep the leading provisions
| of the arrangement from members of the
| tails are likely to filter through their minds
| to those of other interested parties until
| they become public property.
Keeping Details Secret.
| For the present. however, the wish of
Special Commissioner Kasson will be re-
spected and the details of the arrangements
made in respect to the Bermudas and ia
cial delegates from those islands and by
the British charge d'affaires. Arrange
ments will be made to cable the action of
the colonial Legislature promptly to the for
eign office in London, and cable message
will then be sent to the British charge di-
recting him to sign the arrangement
behalf of the British government. Copies
of the arrangement will be forwarded in
the meantime to the foreign office in Down
ing street, in order that the home govern
ment may be satisfied that they contain
nothing hostile to the imperial policy of
Rrit a