A AA

Free.

Frames of, also taken apart (G.. I.). . . . Tops, finished parts of same, except needles

Parts of tops, unfinished, also roughly cast; sewin gand knitting machiues with framse (G-, I, S.)

Opéra glasses (G., I.)

Pianos, parlor organs, and similar key instruments, with the exception . of church organs (G., D

Children's toys and goods noth otherwise provided for, in connection with silk goods, laces , artificial flowers , and prepared ornamental feathers (G., I.)

Imitations of gold and silver leaf (G., I.) . .

Umbrellas and parasols —

Of silk or half silk (G., I.)

Of other material (G., I.)

Trimmed with ribbons, embroideries, volants, etc. (G., Lj

Tartaric acid, chloride of potash (G., I.) . . .

Chloride of zinc , also liquid (G., I.) . . . .

Hydrogen oxide, watery solutions of sulphuric acid (G., I.)

Articles of tariff Nos. 177, 322, 330, 331, for dry distillation of coal tar to be used for the manufacture of tar paints, by spécial permit (G., I.)

Matches (G., I.)

Lunts, manufacturée! , without admixture of powder (G., I.)

United States Consulate- General,

Vienna, April 1, 1892.

Julius Goldschmidt, Consul- General.

Previous Correspondence.

Mr. Blaine to the Chevalier de Tavera.

Department of State,

Washington, January 7, 1892.

Sir : The Congress of the United States enacted a tariff law , which was approved October 1, 1890, in which provision was made for the ad-

Commerce.

mission into the United States , free of ail duty, of the following articles, to wit : Ail sugars not above No. 16 Dutch standard in color , molasses, coffee , tea , and hides. In section 3 of this law it is declared that thèse remissions of duty were made «with a view to secure reciprocal trade with countries producing» those articles ; and it is provided that «on and after the first day of January , 1892, whenever and so often as the Président shall be satisfied that the Government of any country producing and exporting sugars, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides, raw and uncured, or any of such articles, imposes duties or other exactions upon the agricultural or other products of the United States , which , in view of such sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides into the United States, he may deem to be reciprocally unequal and unreasonable , he shall have the power and it shall be his duty to suspend, by proclamation to that effect, the provisions of this act relating to the free introduction of sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides, the production of such country, for such time as he shall deem just , and in such case and during such suspension duties shall be levied, collected, and paid upon sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides, the product of or exported from such designated country,» at the rate set forth in said section 3.

I am directed by the Président to inform you that , in view of the free introduction into the United States of the articles named, the product of Austria-Hungary , he deems the duties imposed upon the agricultural and other products of the United States, on their introduction into Austria- Hungary , to be reciprocally unequal and unreasonable ; and that, unless on or before the 15th day of March next some satisfactory commercial arrangement is entered upon between the Government of the United States and the Government of Austria-Hungary, or unless some action is taken by the latter Government whereby the unequal and unreasonable state of the trade relations between the two countries is removed , the Président will, on the date last named , issue his proclamation suspending the provisions of the tariff law cited relating to the free introduction of such sugar, molasses, coffe, tea, and hides , the production of Austria-Hungary, and during such suspension the duties set forth in section 3 of said law shall be levied, collected, and paid upon sugar, molasses, coffee, tea, and hides, the product of or exported from Austria-Hungary.

In asking you to transmit to your Government the foregoing information, I beg that you will also convey to it the assurance that the Government of the United States is earnestly desirous of maintaining with Austria-Hungary such trade relations as shall be reciprocally equal and mutually advantageous , and state that this Government entertains the hope that, before the time fixed in this note, you may be empowered to enter with me upon some équitable and satisfactory arrangement, based upon the concessions proposed in the law of the Congress of the United States. Accept, etc.,

Chevalier de Tavera, James G. Blaine.

Etc., etc., etc.

674 Etats-Unis d'Amérique, Autriche- Hongrie.

Chevalier de Tavera to Mr. Blaine.

Impérial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Légation,

Washington, May 2, 1892.

Mr. Secretary of State: I have been authorized by the ministry of foreign affairs to inform you, in reply to your note of January 7th, that it is desired in Austria-Hungary to establish the commercial relations of that country with the United States on a suitable basis.

The Austro-Hungarian Government is consequently prepared to grant such réductions of duties as have been or may hereafter be granted to other states by commercial treaties , so far as such réductions are applicable to ail countries enjoying the usage of the most-favored nation , to similar productions from the United States of America on their importation into Austria-Hungary. The Austro-Hungarian Government takes it for granted that the Government of the United States will be prepared to secure a continuance of the présent exemption from duties to Austrian and Hungarian productions, provided that they are mentioned in section 3 of the tariff law of October 1, 1890, and especially to sugar imported into the United States from Austria-Hungary.

As soon, therefore, as a déclaration shall be made on this subject by the Government of the United States of America , such measures will immediately be taken in Austria-Hungary as are necessary to extend the aforesaid réductions of duties to the productions of the United States. I avail, etc.,

Tavera.

His Excellency J. G. Blaine,

Secretary of State.

Mr. Blaine to the Chevalier de Tavera.

Department of State,

Washington, May 3, 1892.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 2d instant, in which, in reply to my note of January 7th last, communicating to you the provisions of section 3 of the tariff law of the United States of October 1 , 1890 , you state that the Government of Austria- Hungary, in return for the free admission into the United State3 of sugar and the other products of Austria-Hungary named in said section 3, is ready to grant to the products of the United States, on their importation into Austria-Hungary, the same réductions of duties as are granted to other countries by commercial treaties now in force or which may be hereafter granted.

I am directed by the Président to state to you that he accepts the action of the Government of Austria-Hungary in proposing to grant to the products of the United States the same tariff réductions, on their importation into Austria-Hungary, as are granted to Germany and other

Commerce.

countries by the commercial treaties now in force or which may hereafter be granted, as a due reciprocity for the action of the Congress of the United States as contained in section 3 of the tariff law of October 1, 1890 ; and that , as soon as he shall be officially informed that the Government of Austria-Hungary is prepared to decree the admission of the products of the United States at the réductions of the gênerai tariff proposed, the Président will cause the necessary orders to be given to secure the continued free admission into the United States of the articles, the product of Austria-Hungary, enumerated in section 3 of said law of October 1, 1890. Accept, etc.,

James G. Blaine.

Chevalier de Tavera,

Etc., etc., etc.

The Chevalier de Tavera to Mr. Blaine.

Impérial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Légation,

Washington, May 25, 1892.

Sir : I have the honor to bring to your knowledge thas I have just received a telegram from His Excellency Count Kalnoky, which informs me that the decree according in Austria-Hungary to the imports from the United States the treatment on the basis of the most-favored nation has been published to day.

I avail, etc.,

Tavera.

The Honorable James G. Blaine,

Secretary of State.