the period from the early '90s to 1912-13 was steady. The value doubled in this period but the proportion of the total sank to 13 per cent.
To a very considerable degree the passing of the importance of these goods reflects the decline of the British leadership in Mexican imports. For generations textiles have been one of the characteristic features of British trade and at one time they were not only the chief item of Mexican imports but practically an undisputed British field. By 1912-13 they were neither. Mexican and foreign competition was pressing British manufacturers hard. The cotton thread and handkerchiefs imported were still practically all British. A large share of the lace trade and of that in coarse cottons had been lost. In the better trade in piece-goods British mills still made about seven-eighths of the imports. Wool yarn imports came from Germany, light wool goods chiefly from France; only in the heavier woolens was the wool trade distinctively British. Serious inroads were made on a number of less important branches.
It is impossible to analyze satisfactorily the developments in Mexican imports other than textiles. In the first part of the Diaz régime the classifications are often according to the rate of tariff paid and in the later years on physical characteristics rather than utility. In general, the government followed the policy of favoring the introduction of materials that did not compete with Mexican industry and which, through encouragement of industry, would give a stimulus to the development of the republic. It frequently freed such goods from tariff charges. The tariff of 1872-3 allowed but 12 per
