[Inclosure 1 in No.
221—Translation.]
Viscount de
Caravellas to Mr. Partridge.
Rio de
Janeiro, December 21,
1874.
To His Excellency James R.
Partridge, &c.:
The minister of finance has called my attention to the statement lately
appearing in the papers, that the Government of the United States
intended to re-establish the duty, and a heavier one, as it seems, than
before, on coffee, from which it was taken oft not long ago.
The conversations we have had on this important matter had left me with
the conviction that you, entertaining liberal views, had expressed the
wish that the productions of your own country should not be heavily
charged here, as was natural, and would therefore (admit) recognize that
the American Government should continue to Brazilian coffee the
exemption it now enjoys from any duty.
There is no necessity, therefore, that I should enlarge upon the subject,
and I am sure you will do all in your power to promote the commercial
relations between the two countries.
I embrace with pleasure the opportunity to renew to you the assurances of
the cordial esteem with which I remain your excellency’s most obedient,
humble servant,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 221.]
Mr. Partridge to
Viscount de
Caravellas.
Rio de
Janeiro, December 24,
1874.
To His Excellency the Viscount de
Caravellas:
In reply to your excellency’s note of the 21st instant, in relation to
the duty said to be proposed in the United States on coffee, I beg to
say that I have yet received no information in regard thereto other than
what has been sent by telegraph. It is not, therefore, possible for me
to give you any reliable information. I may state, however, that in view
of the diminished receipts into the Federal Treasury during the past
year, in consequence of the financial crisis of September, 1873,1 think
it extremely probable that the President may have recommended to
Congress the propriety of restoring a portion, at least, of the duty on
tea and coffee; both of which have been entirely exempt since July,
1872.
Since additional revenue must be had, it would seem to be only just and
proper that such articles of universal consumption should bear some
portion of the general charge. In case such a duty should be imposed by
the Congress, (which is, however, quite
[Page 103]
uncertain,) it could not be regarded or be at all
designed as in any way retaliatory, or as directed in any way against
the productions of any country. It would be simply a measure of
necessity, intended for a time, designed to be but temporary, and to be
relieved as soon as the necessity should disappear.
I need not remind your excellency that the policy of the United, State3
in respect to duties on foreign products has been, so far as Brazil is
concerned, one of the greatest liberality. Before 1862, coffee was free
of all duty; and in consequence of the necessities of our civil war, a
moderate duty was first imposed, which, when increased, did not exceed 5
cents, or 95 reis, the pound. This was again reduced, at the first
opportunity, to 3 cents a pound, and this last has been entirely
abolished since 1st July, 1872. When it is remembered that in every
other country—I believe without exception— coffee is charged with a duty
varying from the very moderate one which existed in the United States,
up to the very heavy rate now exacted in France, it will be seen that in
the United States, even under the pressure of necessity, the tariff has
been one of extreme liberality toward Brazil. Your excellency may be
assured that such policy and desire continue in the United States, and
that if a duty shall be imposed on coffee, it would be moderate,
probably far below any rate elsewhere exacted, and would, from its
necessity, be only temporary.
Your excellency rightly states the interest which both of us have felt
and expressed in regard to the further development of the commercial
relations between the two countries; I trust that the disposition shown
in this respect, and the progress already secured under it by the
imperial government, will continue, and lead to still further extension.
This empire, under the present enlightened administration, has made
great advances in this direction, and has been able to reduce many
duties which restrained commercial activity. The United States have
pursued the same course, and they have not only reduced, but have
actually abolished—prematurely, as it now seems—the duty on some
articles, which, without being so much charged as to lessen consumption
ought rightly to bear some portion of the general burden. Should it be
found indispensable in the United States to restore the duty on some
such articles, now unduly exempt, I am persuaded that the imperial
government will see in this measure only a necessity imposed on the
Government of the United States by circumstances fortuitous, temporary,
and probably beyond its control. And as the duty on coffee, established
at first under such pressure, was quickly reduced when the necessity
lessened, and was wholly abolished when it was thought to have passed
away, so it will be now, in all probability, a temporary measure of
relief, to be withdrawn when no longer required. You will be able, I
trust, by these considerations to convince his excellency the Viscount
do Rio Branco that this measure, recommended, as it is said, by the
President, will be, if adopted by the Congress, in the first place, a
duty of moderate amount, probably much below that exacted in other
countries; secondly, that, far from diminishing or being intended to
diminish the consumption, it will have only the effect of giving a
moderate but indispensable revenue; and lastly, that from both these
results it cannot, to any appreciable extent, work injury to Brazilian
interests, or tend to diminish the commercial activity between the two
most important nations on this continent. I embrace the opportunity to
renew the assurances of the esteem and consideration with which I
remain,
Your excellency’s obedient servant,
