Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-19
OPEN DOOR TO PORTO RICO
A French Consul Writes on the American
Policy.
Fruitful Fields for the EmplOymen
of Capital-Valuable Markets
to BE Gained.

There is a place to fill in Porto Rico,
fortunes to be made and fruitful fields for
the employment of capital" writes the
French consul, NJ. Charpentier in Porto
Rico, to the French minister of commerce
an abstract of which communication Act
Ing Secretary of War Meiklejohn furnishes
the press today.
Heretofore says the consul. I'VE have
mad little business with the large island
Vhat the Americans have just conquered
yet N Is rich and important market.
inougn numbering only about one million
ihnaptants, 1t makes heavy purchases be-
cause its inhabitants, children and grand
children or Spaniards, have expensive hab-
ITS and live in comfort MANY of than
know our language and love our race in
dependent OF the fact that there are some
'1ooo frenchmen among them, all Well-to-
do, and some opuient.
Nevertheless, our commerce there has
tnus far been insignificant for three rea-
SONS FGrSt, because our exporters have
an instructive dread of THE difficuItjes Thai
lney may encounter in the government and
courts OF foreign colonies; second on ac-
count OF the rates of discount; third be-
cause the discriminating Spanish tariffs i'm
posed heavy duties on commodities from
Iofeign markets, while admitting dutv free
everything from Spain.
These reasons no longer exist The mat
a
cree OF President Mckinley fixes the value
OF the local plaster at francs The dread
OF lawsuits has diminished from the nm
flghtness of the Americans, which is one
OF their characteristics in business The
discriminating tariff has been replaced bv
the order of January 80 which subjects All
goods imported here to the same tariff
"nateVer the country of their origin This
order applies even to American products
Spain Will certainly lose large rart of
her fve million dollars annual exports to
tort porto Rleo. lca Americans will gain a good
activity can certainly get their SHARE
The Porto Rican Markets.
M. Charpentier cites the following lines
of goods in which the French ought to get
business in Porto Rico: Wines, especially
of superior quality, champagnes, spirits.
liquors, French brandies, Vichy and other
mineral waters, olive oil, the discriminat-
ing duties on which were formerly three
times as high as the present duty.
While France and Spain are now on a
footing of equality, Spain was exempted
from all duties the following articles
under the old regime: Foods, such as but
ter, cheese, vegetables, preserved fruits,
mustard, sauce, chocolate, rice, Goldfish,
chemical and pharmaceutical products,
Partisan specialties and novelties such as
ladies' hats, feathers, fans, silk umbrellas,
knickknacks, articles for masquerade sta
tionery. boots and shoes. jewelry, watches
and Photographic apparatus.
In concluding his interesting letter the
French consul says, Significantly:
There is place to fill in Porto Rico
fortunes to be made and fruitful fields for
the employment Of capital. 1t is not real
lied that this little island is more populous
than certain states. Uruguay, for Instance;
richer also and more accustomed to luxury.
We have our stakes already driven; rail-
road in which there is invested 80, 600. 600
francs of our capital. regular packet boat
service, the neighborhood of the French
Antilles and the advantage of a rich and
highly reputed colony"
The above fiatterfng statement of COM
mercial conditions in Porto Rico has been
printed IN several of the French newspa-
pers. some of which were not during the
Spanish American war friendly to the gov
ernment Of the United States.
The United States consul, John C. Covert,
In commenting upon the letter, says that
the American policy in Porto Rico is in
most emphatic contrast to that of France
IN her colonies and protectorates, where
heavy export duties are levied upon any
commodities exported to any country ex-
cept France and heavy import duties upon
any merchandise received from any coun-
try except France.