394 
517. Notwithstanding the failure of negotiations with the 
United States in 1884-85, we are not convinced that the eee 
have hitherto lost valuable opportunities of this kind, or hav 
been debarred from obtaining benefits which would have pesn 
lastin. 
518. As a matter of fact, on the most recent occasion when it 
was possible to make special terms with the United States, the 
West Indian Colonies were able to take measures owing to whic 
their sugar was admitted free of dut 
519. The benefits, however, of this arrangement were not 80 
great as was expected, and the agreement did not last, but was 
put an end to by a change of policy in the United States. The 
same disappointment and the same fate might have befallen any 
special arrangement for reciprocity 
520. Hawaii is the only county which has been able to make a 
special treaty of det Set with the United States which has 
lasted ; but Hawaii, owing to various causes, especially to the 
large siventiients: of pue Tn capital in its sugar industry and 
to the general development of ear policy with regard to it, 
sate no analogy to the bue Indie 
It does not, however, follow because there has been no 
ainé in this grievance in the past that there may not arise 
ardship in the future. It is impossible to foresee what offers or 
demands may be made by the United States, or what opportu- 
nities may arise 
T The question of special reciprocal tariff arrangements has 
T S ed by the provision made in the Revenue Law of the 
United 8 tates by which the President is empowered to enter into 
commercial treaties with countries willing to give advantages to 
the trade of the United States, and in return for such advantages 
io grant a reduction by 20 per cent. of the duties imposed by the 
ct. 
523. The United States is the nearest and therefore, in one 
sense, the natural market for West Indian produce. It may be 
that in time the United States, psu by the development of their 
own beet industry or in other ways, will succeed in supplying 
their own market and so cease to take or to need West Indian 
sugar, But at present tnis is not so; and perhaps may not be so 
for along time. In the meantime, therefore, the British Govern- 
ment should take care that if the West Indies lose the market of 
the United States, it shall not be owing to provisions in Imperial 
treaties, which could be removed without involving a loss to the 
Empire which would be altogether out of proportion to the gain 
that would accrue to the West Indies. 
524. It would be very oora nate z at a time when conditions 
excluded from actual or possible markets elsewhere; and a serious 
political difficulty would arise if at such a time the exclu usion were 
to be the direct consequence of the Imperial connexion. For such 
Eu QO 
