Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-27
THE TREATY WITH SPAIN.
SENIOR VALERA AUTHORIZED
TO MAKE A CONCESSION

me Modification of no Practical I'm
POFtance to American Sugar Planters.
io"eVer- Secretary FreIInEhuvseri,s
views on the Subject Made Publfc an
Long Letter.
MADRID, Dec. 26.-The Spanish Govern
ment Will empower SenOr Valera. Minister at
Washington, 10 assent to notifications Of the
pending HispanO-American treaty. if sucb
snail be necessary TO insure its ratifcation Inv
the American Senate As the treaty now
SIahus US IL Is proposed to admit free into Amer
lca sugars not above Is Dutch standard.
spain, however, will allow the treaty TO he
mOulned 10 the extent of admitting only
sugars up to class I3. my
SECRETARY FRELINGHUYsEN's OPINION.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 25.-The following let
ter mas been written by Secretary Frelin0
huysen to Senator Miller chairman of tho
senate Foreign Relations Com luittee:
Il nave received your letter asking whether
% mere are any pohtlcal considerations import
ant 10 TINS country relating to the treaty be-
tween the United States and Spain as to
CuDa and Porto Rico, and also inOuirinO oF
me whether have any suggestions to make
IN answer TO the objections to the treaty
winch you assume l have noticed, The ne
EQUATION OF this convention was under
taken sakeh pursuant to policy which
had already received the sanction of
Congress manifested by approDriations
originating in the House for commissioners to
negotiate a commercial convention with
-tAN-AlCo anu lOE Il commission TO Central and
oouth America TO ascertain means Of foster
ing more intimate relations Of amity and
commerce with them. The same policy had
obtained the approval Of the Senate bv its
ratification OF the convention with Mexico
Ihe convention now before you in its political
aspect Is OF Importance. Some have thought
that there is disposition in the United States
looking to the annexation of Cuba
Such action would be unwise
for reasons which are apnarent
TO your committee, for even could it be accom-
phsneu by general consent. our institutions
would be endangered by this beginning of
colonial system or by an Incorporation into
our BODY polite OF a large population not in
entire sympathy with our governmental aims
causes OF complaint as to the
treatment of our citizens and
their property in Cuba and Porto Rico which
nave heretofore led to serious discussion be-
tween the two governments, and by bringing
the islands into close commercial connection
with the United States, copfers upon us ana
upon them all the benefits which would result
from annexation were that possible. The
convention with spain is one of u series of in
lernailonal engagements. Following the
reciprocity treaty with Mexico, it
Porto Rico to our products
The treaty with Santo Domingo opens those
OF that republic, and the pending negotiations
with Central American States and with
Colombia tend to the same object. In con-
Junction with these the treaty with Nicaragua
Tor the construction of an interOceanc canal,
"iltio hA ms TIC lHOsl INSTANT parts OF our
Acountry into closer relations, opens the mar
Is Of the west coast Of South America to
krade and gives us at our doors customer
10 absorb large portion of those arti-
llch we produce in return for products
we cannot profitably raise.
DISCUSSING TIE OBJECTIONS.
W let me refer to some of the objections
o the spanish Convention: 1t is said
thereby give up the revenue of sugar
S25O00,0 600 to s35, ,000, 900 In return for
on of duties upon our products import
,aa Cuba and Porto Rico estimated on the
I'll .f the existing traffic at from $4,000, 600
AI O0O000 The relinquishing of revenue
sti for the public good, is IN the line of
hl7 pal policy. Hitherto it was done in the
te tea and coffee, which by act of May !,
5t we're placed upon the free list without
Is Ittempt to obtain therefor any
tof alent whatever, and solely In
a eHce to a popular demand for a
breakfast table" By this measure
8 #rreasury OF the United States has lost
81 Nhg the last twelve years a revenue of
Sl54.eOO,OOO on coffee alone, and, besides.
ld ys not forget that Brazil availed itself of
tt faction OF this government to impose an
if Hort tax on coffee which deprived the
pa ble of this country OF the benefit of our
tafff reduction. Article V. of this cOnVen-
tt prevents similar action by Spain. The
tn now under consideration tends to
cl, en- the cost of the necessaries of
nL by reducing the cost of a
st;l of daily consumption, of which
wei obliged 10 import each year nearly
Sl0o, poo IN value TO make up for the made
quat MrOducCiOn of our own soil which
aTnOIt 10 only y per centum of the whole
cOnsuS N. and at the same time we are
grOwit arket for our products in the
>panlssi les coupled with especial prIvi-
leges tOts fchant marine.