Year: 1878

hold an exposition wherein the products Of both
countries may appear side by side. Considering that
the want OF direct relations between producer and
consumer proves 10 be al additional obstacle, that
same government has expressed great satisfaction
when information was received regarding the pro.
iected expedition Of merchants and manufacturers
from the United States. and the city OF Mexico. for
long time, has been making preparations
for their reception. IL will be easy for this
honorable. board to imagine the effect that
fraterna sentiments. by the appearance Of
such public declarations rs have been printed in
these latter days III many organs OF the American
press speaking OF the rapacity and ferocity Of the
Mcxicans, which did not permit the forming of COM
mercial relations with them. 1t is fortunate. how
ever that these sentiments are very tar from being
generally participated in by the people OF this great
Republic. From its official functionaries down to
some OF the smallest merchants and manufacturers
many have come forward who advocate pacific and
harmonious relations between the two Republics
facing each other the shores of the Rio Grande.
The American Consuls in Mexico. when nterrogated
the subject by the Department OF State have
pressed opinions which have appeared IN the papers
speaking OF the possibility and OF the Importance OF
reciprocal interchanges between the two Republics.
One Of those functionares the Consul General in the
City of Mexico accompanied his report with enclosed
letters from American merchants who We're in that
city the time being and who testify that after
thorough investigation ana from personal studious
observation, they have to acknowledge that the Mcx
can marke: presented to them very brilliant pros
poets


INTERESTED FALSE REPRESENTATIONS coRnEcTEp.


During the whole of this year have been in con-
tact with the corporations representing the CONNER
cial interest OF this country They oil have turned





found myself invited to take part in their delibcra
tons my first impression feeling Of gratitude
and OF pride inspired by such unmerted honor Since
then have felt thoroughly satisfied and confirmed
in my own views, because find that the practical
and infalble instinct OF those honorable associa-
tons goes i'll the same direction with my own ideas
Every day my convictions that extensive and
active commerce between the United States
and Mexico is possible becomes more and more
confirmed: but there be commerce
without confidence. nor can confidence exist while
those unfavorable reports remain uncorrccted and
purposey q be diahel % the American
people to misrcpresent the existing state Of affairs
and the actual condition of the neighbor Republic
Had not the press OF this country use pointed out
the principal Of those reports should prob
ably dare to say anything the subject but the
American journals themselves have repeatedly
alluded certain interests of speculation intended
to be favored by disturbance in the cordial under
standing between our two Republics


This evil influence has followed me wherever be-
took myself in pursuit Of my abors in favor OF
and OF reciprocal commerce between our two coun-
tries The Very day after my arrival at Chicago by
invitation of the manufacturers of the Northwest.
correspondence appeared in which it attempted
to prove with pretended statistical data, that the i'm
port trade in Mexico was insignificant


In those days this present honorable Board voted
the resolution by virtue OF which l find myself in
your midst. and without delay another correspond
from the self same source appeared in the Bal
timore S,n sustaining the paradox that the Ameri-
people had no need to trouble themselves about
the Mexican market, because they had already pos
session Of it. considering the fact that their mporta-
tions amounted to more than did those coming from
Europe. short time after that went to New York
with the object connected with the development of
in cotton goods with Mexico. when the
same correspondent had article published contain
ing the absurd assertion that domestic
production in Mexico the entire &C.
mand for cotton goods, and that mono Of
those articles could be imported there under our
existing tariff. It is difficult to conceive how pub
icity could have been given to such an assertion in
spite OF the fact known to everybody and mentioned
in the reports of the American Consuls to the State
Department, regarding the importance of the intro
duction OF English cotton goods into Mexico


Fortunately those unfaithfu statements made by
persons who are anxious to perpetuate the absurd
state of affairs, by virtue Of which American mpora
ton in Mexico is the to-day that it forty
years ago, have not made very strong impression
the common of the industrial and commercial
classes.


The great mass of the American people consisting
of those clements has proclivity to manufacture
unustihabe quarrcs, and aspircs only to the widen
ing of the roads that shall give to the products of
their labor access to the market of Mexico.


In communications have addressed to my govern
ment, and which have read publicly in Chicago.
have given myself the pleasure to pay just tribute
To the cordial and honest disposition OF this people
such disposition will prevail that entertained by
small minority that IL at work trying to hinder
commerce and to create difficulties between our two
Republics.


CHANNELS COMMUNICATIONS.


The party OF explorers from Chicago and st. Louis
is now preparing Tor visit to Mexico in January.
The impressions they will bring back with them will
contribute to create here feeling Of confidence
garding the Mexican market similar the feeling
commencing to exist in 1874. in consequence of visit
to Mexico by delegation from the Chamber OF Com
OF New Orleans. II such feeling will keep
growing the between the two Republics will
grow with prospect for large increase, whenever
certain facilities shall have been called into life. The
principal OF them will consist in the means Of trans
portation. The only in existence are those
which are subsidized by the Mexican government
To these subsidies the steamship lines be-
tween New York and Vera Cruz and between this port
and New Orleans, well the traffic carried on he
tween the American and Mexican ports the Pacific
by the steamers Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany and of the Californian Steamship Company.


To those facilities may be added others which can
be introduced by the Legislation of both countries and
by their conventional arrangements. This brings me
TO the question Of reciprocity concerning which this
honorable Board has desired TO hear my views


RECIPROCAL DUTIES.


l have to observe that ~ to that matter il is
impossible for me to speak from official stand
point. No discussion the subject between the two
governments has taken place, and conseq uently the
Mexican government has given me no instructions on
the subject The questions which have occupied the
two cabinets during the past two years tar from
touching the points connected with facilities of
nerce. have rather tended toward delaying the CON-
ing up Of those questions. Therefore can only
press my personal ideas and opinion regarding the
probable views OF the Mexican government, judging
by the outside appearances OF its acts. am under
the impression that the governments could easily
come to understanding regarding certain arrange
ments Of reciprocity. because in both may be sup
posed to exist the disposition which Mr. Evsrts
displayed in a conference on that subject which he
had short time ago with represe ntative If the
press. and which was subsequently published in the
journals The Secretary of State acknow b.n-


ts could be obtsne1 by of mutual concessions
regarding commercial reciprocity. recognizing at the
time the importance of the interests involved in





proceed therein with studious circumspection On
this account II would not be possible enter
into details which require statistical data in figures
which have not hand; but In general terms can
express my conviction that some concessions in the
tariff regulations are rccprocaly admissible in both
countries without prejudice the Industrial inter-
ests Of either Of them. Even before came to this
country called the attention of the Minister Of
Finance in Mexico to the required reforms OF several
articles in our tariff the necessary reduction sup
preston Of duties on certain articles particularly In
the various branches of hardware and iron Industry
and WAS happy to find that functionsry perfectly
well disposed TO agree with my suggestions. The
tendency OF the Mexican government in both its
branches--executtve a. well as legislatye-to make
our tariff regulations more liberal has been demon
stratcd in two recent instances A resolution has
just been introduced In the Mexican Congress that the
tariffs he revised, with the object simplify Ing and
of making Them more liberal. and ut the same time
the Minister OF Finance has had occasion during
recent debate to express his ideas regarding q treaty
of reciprocity. bill under discussion to ex-
enpt paper Of foreign manufacture from all duty.
The Minister of Finance opposed the measure.
its nature but account of it's isolated char.
maintaining that this class ~ should