No. 121.
Mr. Dichman to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Bogota, November 7, 1878.
(Received December 10.)
No. 18.]
Sir: Inclosed is a letter addressed to me by the
Hon. Salvador Camacho Roldan, secretary of foreign relations, on the subject
of a reduction of the duty on Colombian tobacco in the United States in
exchange for the free admission of American beer, and a reduction of 25 per
cent. of the duty on American dry goods imported into this country.
As far as the trade with this country is concerned, the importance of the
proposition cannot be overestimated. As Dr. Camacho points out, dry goods
form the bulk of the importations into this country, and I am satisfied
that, as they would all have to be bought in the United States, under a
reduction of 25 per cent. in duty, all the other trade would follow. Nor
would the free admission of American beer form an inconsiderable item, for
beer of all kinds is kept out now by the prohibitive duty, and the free
admission of American beer would cause a large trade in that article. Of
course, I am not in a position to state how much the duty on Colombian
tobacco can be reduced, but I am satisfied that the amount of tobacco which
would be imported into the United States would be inconsiderable. But if we
can have American dry goods admitted with a reduction of duty of 25 per
cent., everything which this country will buy will have to come from the
United States.
* * * * * * *
Situated as I am here, I can clearly see the time coming when everything
worthy of the name of commerce will be transacted with or through the United
States 5 when the railroads, bridges, and other public improvements in this
country will be made by our people, and when not only all the advantages
resulting from an exchange of commodities will accrue
[Page 255]
to our people, but when, owing to the
increased stability of the Colombian institutions arising from a closer
intercourse with the United States, and the influence which our government
and people will then be able to exercise upon the affairs of Colombia, the
export and import trade of this country will rise to proportions which will
dwarf the present amount.
There is not an article produced in this country but what is needed in ours,
and to secure the commercial advantages thus hastily outlined, the
proposition which I inclose to-day is the first step in a commercial policy
with this country, which I hope to be able to submit in person to the
consideration of the Department.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
18.—Translation.]
Mr. Camacho to Mr
Dichman.
Bogota, November 6,
1878.
My Esteemed Mr. Minister: In a private
conversation with you in days past, it was manifested to me that it
might just be possible to open to Colombian tobacco the great market of
the United States by means of a special reduction in its favor of the
high duties which are now contained in the American tariff, provided
always that these be considered in the tariff of this country in
reciprocity, a total remission of the duties on American beer, and a
prudent reduction in the duties on cotton goods of the same origin
(American).
If you should not find it inconvenient to proceed in this matter, I
should like to know what special reduction on the duties of importation
of our tobacco the United States could make on the raw material, as well
as on tobacco manufactured into cigars, always provided that we will
give free entry to American beer, and consent to a discount of 25 per
cent. of the duties on the cotton goods manufactured in the United
States.
The consumption of beer among our coast population above all would not be
inconsiderable, for among those people, over 600,000 in number, there is
to-day no popular beverage except liquors, and even in the states of the
interior the use of it (beer) is already popular. In these last states
of the interior there are small breweries, but the quality of the beer
leaves much to be wished for and the foreign beer is consumed in small
quantities, of course weighed down by the high duties which it pays
now.
The consumption of cotton goods is perhaps 5,000,000 kilograms, the value
of which may be estimated on an average in a lump at not less than $1
per kilogram.
The production of our tobacco is limited. It requires fertile and rich
soil; is subjected to plagues and diseases, which destroy it frequently,
and which in reality have reduced the cultivation of it about one-third
part of what it was fifteen years ago; it needs much labor to cultivate
it in the hot climate on the bottom lands of the large rivers,
ordinarily unhealthy, and for that reason thinly inhabited. The total
exportation of this article into the Hanseatic cities, where it is
imported free of duty, and from where it penetrates into the markets of
Germany, has never exceeded 125,000 cwt., according to the official
statistics, which, in reference to tobacco, are the most complete which
we possess. In reality it does not exceed, if it does reach, 50,000
cwt., on account of a disease which has attacked the plantations for
several years. The quantity of tobacco which we can export cannot be
considerable, nothing to a country which produces on its part 3,000,000
or 4,000,000 cwt. of the same article, and exports it in enormous
quantities to the markets of Europe.
In return for our tobacco, the United States could not only sell us
cotton goods, but also furniture, hardware, and iron and steel, boots
and shoes, and many other articles which we do not buy now on account of
the want of well-established commercial relations. Our gold might as
well go to that market (United States), partly to pay for merchandise,
partly to buy exchange on Europe. And the commerce of Colombia, situated
on a point open by water between the two Americas and the two oceans,
would be the best basis which the United States could desire to control
the commerce with the republics of South America.
With distinguished consideration, your obedient servant,
