No. 49.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Partridge.
Washington, October 26, 1871.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 8, of the 9th ultimo, was duly received. That part of it which relates to the diminution of duties on certain principal articles of export from the United States to Brazil was referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, a copy of whose answer upon the subject is herewith inclosed. This Department concurs in the views of Mr. Boutwell. It is desirable that the fiscal legislation of all foreign countries should be so shaped as to increase their consumption of the products of the United States, and the state of the trade between this country and Brazil makes such legislation on the part of the latter particularly to be desired, and it is to be hoped that Brazil may find it consistent with her interests to make such changes as may tend to an increased introduction of the products of this country.
The disparity of the rates of duty upon certain leading articles, the production of the one country imported into the other, has from the beginning of our diplomatic intercourse with Brazil been pretty much the same as it now is.
The representations which from time to time may have informally been made by us upon the subject, appear to have had no effect in changing the policy of that government. Threats of a countervailing duty upon Brazilian coffee do not at anytime appear either to have been made by us, or to have been apprehended by Brazil.
The statesmen of that country are probably aware of the extensive consumption, positive and comparative, of Brazilian coffee in the United States.
If, in your unofficial intercourse with leading men in Brazil, it should be in your power, without giving offense, so to impress them with the injustice of their duties on flour and lard from this country, as to lead to their material reduction, you would render a service which would signalize your mission, and would merit the thanks of your Government.
I am, &c,