wish to make this point because the honorable Delegate from Nicaragua appeared to advocate the report of the majority on the ground that it contained views less equivocal or more consistent with the respect which I owe to the United States and its delegation.

Mr. GUZMAN. I shall have to explain myself to the honorable Delegate from the Argentine Republic. In the words I used a few minutes since, I did not intend to convey the idea that in my opinion the minority in its report meant in any way to offend, hurt, or make a remark which might be construed as lacking in respect or esteem for the American Government. The honorable Delegate from the Argentine says that I did not listen to him attentively. In reply permit me to say that I have been one of his most attentive listeners. What I said was, and it seems that it was the gentleman himself who did not pay due attention to me, that this form of resolution might allow of interpretations, not here in the Conference, but elsewhere-interpretations which would be made later by the press of the United States, and which would change the meaning of the resolution and pretend to find in it something else, as is often the case even with words much clearer than these; and that it might be thought that there had been some intention of showing disrespect to the American Government which has submitted to us this subject, among others, for consideration. But by no means, permit me to repeat, have I, for my part, wished to express the opinion that there had been the slightest intention on the part of the honorable Delegate, either of the Argentine Republic or of Chili, of offending the

American Government, since I well know how much respect and esteem they have for the Government and the people of the United States.

REMARKS OF MR. HENDERSON.

Mr. HENDERSON. If I say anything at all in this discussion, it will be simply for the purpose of placing before the Delegates here, and before the public when our proceedings shall be published, the action which the United States Delegates have felt called upon in this matter to observe. I understand that some complaint was made of our tariff laws, if I understand the remarks properly, and especially of the high duty upon wool, a large product of the Argentine. Of course, if our friends from the Argentine feel disposed to open the doors and have a Customs Union based upon proper principles, principles that would be equitable and just to both nations—and, in fact, to all the nations-why, perhaps, after long consultation, after examination by experts upon this subject, such a conclusion could be arrived at as would admit the wool of the Argentine upon terms that would be just if not absolutely free. But in response, or in reward, for an action of that sort upon our part, of course we would expect the reduction of Argentine duties upon various articles. I desire simply, whilst upon my feet, Mr. President, to state that, if I understand it properly, the tariff of the Argentine Republic is much more severe and exacting against the United States than ours against the Argentine Republic. If I am not mistaken, from 80 to 85 per cent. of the products received from the Argentine are received free to-day. I hardly think my friend from the Argentine can say the same with regard to products received from the United States.

But this is not a time for criminations and recriminations upon this subject. All we desire upon the part of the United States is to justify our action in inviting the Republics of the Western Hemisphere to consider the advisability of a Customs Union. Our friends from the Argentine have rejected absolutely that proposition in one 593A-10

single line. I would have infinitely preferred, of course, to have had their objection placed in the form of a report which could have been laid before us four or five days before this discussion. I have not prepared anything upon this subject. I have my private views, but perhaps those views are not identical with those of the United States Delegation. I am not prepared to advance my own individual views upon this subject. Personally I believe that a Customs Union is not only practicable but, also, advisable. That is my absolute opinion. Whether it be so in regard to the Argentine and Chili, I can not say. I can understand very well why my friends from those two Republics, grand Republics as they are climbing up the eminence as great Republics, and we are just as happy to see them increase in commercial importance as they can be themselves-whether their products, they occupying about the same latitude in South America as we do in North America, and their products being similar to ours-whether it would be advisable for them I can not say. It would be better for those gentlemen to say for themselves. But personally I believe that such a scheme could be adopted. I do not ask that this Conference adopt anything of that sort, because I do not believe we are prepared here. There are many difficulties in the way, and I do not think we have the time or opportunity here. Hence there is an error in thinking that in my behalf, or in behalf of the United States Delegation, I urged a Customs Union upon the committee. It was, in effect, that under the present circumstances it was not possible or advisable.

But whilst that is true, Mr. President, I always gave it as my opinion that it would be advisable to call together a congress of commercial experts to take this into consideration. I, perhaps, am somewhat radical in my views of this great Western Hemisphere of Republics. I think we are teaching the Eastern nations a great deal. We came from the oppressions of the Old World, and have established many Republics here; and my impression is that we are teaching them a great deal very important to them as well as to ourselves. I think that in less than a hundred years from now, if we are successful here, our

institutions will have been adopted by all of Europe. That is my impression. There are indications now. In fact France is a Republic; Germany is on the line, and in all probability others will be in the same way. Hence I uphold such institutions in this country to give them a still higher and nobler example of republican institutions. But these important things can not be done in an hour; they can not be done in a day; they can not be done in a year. Great government systems and reforms are not the work of a day; they are the work of ages and ages. In fact the world is improving to-day, is better than yesterday, and infinitely better than ten or twenty centuries ago. Mr. President, there are many things possible if we would believe them possible. But I did not rise for the purpose of discussing this subject or advancing the views of the United States delegation or my own views; but I would very much like to see the able discussion of this afternoon put in the English language, so that if it be desirable for the United States delegation to make any remarks at all, that they would place upon the record of this Conference the views we entertain upon this subject.

Mr. SAENZ PEÑA. I rise to explain to the Hon. Mr. Henderson what I have just said with reference to the speech of the honorable Delegate from Nicaragua. Twice in the course of my remarks I stated that the United States delegation and Mr. Henderson are opposed to a Zollverein, but the constant reit eration of the statement that the American delegation does not favor a Zollverein gives me to understand that it is supposed that I have stated that the delegation of the United States did favor the Zollverein. I wish to be explicit upon this point, because I know what Mr. Henderson's opinion is, and I could not have imputed to him an opinion which he has never entertained. I feel that my candor is involved, and for this reason I am so earnest in my desire that

the point should be fully explained to Mr. Henderson.

Mr. HENDERSON. Mr. President, I desire to state that, so far as my action in the committee is concerned, perhaps the statement of my honorable friend may be a little misleading-not intentional, of course, on his part. He will remember that my first proposition in the committee was to the effect that we submit the question of the propriety or the possibility of a Customs Union to another conference; that it be submitted to a conference of commercial experts to be appointed by the different Republics, who should take into consideration the advisability and possibility of establishing a Customs Union. That was my first proposition, and of course that was voted down in the committee.

And I desire to state also that that proposition had the indorsement of the American Delegates-a large majority of them; that we did not despair of the possibility of a Customs Union, and that we were in accord with the act of Congress. Of course we did not and do not believe that the constitution of this body is of such a character as to enable us, in the short time that we expect to be together, to arrange all the details of a Customs Union, but our idea was that it was such an important subject that it ought to be sent to another conference. That was my proposition, entirely in accord with the act of Congress.

Mr. ALFONSO. I am going to make two remarks. The first is that I think the honorable Delegate from the United States has a perfect right to ask to examine the speeches already delivered before this Conference by the honorable Delegate from the Argentine Republic and by myself, because, in point of fact,