Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-27
AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION
From Secretary Frelinghuysen In Which
He Expatiates on the Treaties
now Pending With Divers
Foreign Nations.

EOfeiRn Natt0ns.
WASHINGTON, Dec 26.
The following letter has been written by
Secretary Frelinghuysen and sent this after
noon TO the chairman of the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations:
DEPT. OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.
To the Hon John f. Miller, chairman OF
the committee on foreign relations in the
Senate:
SIR: | have received your letter asking
whether there are any political consdera-
tons important to this country relating to
the treaty between the United States and
Spain as to Cuba and Porto Rico, and also
inquiring whether have anv suggestions to
make in answer to the objections to the
treaty which YOU assume have noticed. The
negotiation of this convention was undertaken
pursuant to the policy which had already re-
ceived the sanction of Congress, manifested
by appropriations originating in the House,
for the commissioners to negotiate for a com
mercial convention with Mexico and for the
commission 10 Central and South America
to ascertain means of fastening more inti-
mate relations of amity and commerce with
them. The same policy had obtained the
approval of the Senate by its ratification OF
the convention with Mexico. The conven-
ton now before you in its political aspect is
of Importance. Some have thought that
there is a disposition in the United States
looking to the annexation of Cuba to the
United States. Such action would be un-
wise for reasons which are apparent TO your
committee, for even could it be accomplished
by general consent our institutions would be
endangered by this beginning of the colonial
system or by the incorporation into our body
of politics large population not in entire
sympathy with our governmental arms and
methods The treaty removes the causes of
complaint as TO the treatment of our citizens
and their property in Cuba and Porto Rico,
which have heretofore lead to serious discus
siOns between the two governments, and bv
bringing the islands into closer commercial
connection with the United States, confers on
us and on them all the benefits which would
result from the annexation. were that possi-
bic. The convention with Spain is one of n
series of international engagements following
the Reciprocity treaty with Mexico. 1t opens
the markets of Cuba and Porto Rico to our
products. The treaty to Santo Domingo
opens those of that republic. The pending
negotiations with the Central American
States and with Columbia tend to the
same subject In conjunction with these
treaties with Nicaragua for the construction
Os an oceanic canal, while bringing the most
distant parts er our country into closer con-
nection opens the markets of the west coast
of South America to our trade, and gives us
at our doors customer able to absorb a
large portion of those articles which we pro-
duce In return for the articles which we can
not proftably raise. Now let me refer to
some of the objections made to the Spanish
convention. 1t is said that we thereby
give up revenue on sugar of from S25 ,000,-
600 to $35, 900, 600 in return for a reduction of
duties on our products imported into Cuba
and Porto Rico estimated on the basis
of the existing traffic, at from So 900, 900 to
S5,000,000. A REIMBURSEMENT OF revenue,
when for public good, is in the line of the
national policy hitherto 1t was done in the
case of tea and coffee, which, by the act of
May |, 1872, were placed on the free list.
Without an attempt to obtain, therefore, any
equivalent whatever, and wholly in obedience
to the popular demand for 'free breakfast
table" the treasury of the United States has
lost, during the last IL years, a revenue of
S44, 900, 600 on coffee alone. Besides, let us
not forget that Brazil availed itself of the
action of this government, to impose an ex-
port tax on coffee, which deprived the people
of this country of the benefit of our tariff re-
duction. Article ) of this convention, pre-
vents a similar action BY Spain. treaty now
under consideration. 1t tends to cheaper
the cost of necesssries of life by reducing
the cost of staple of daily consumption.
of which we are obliged to import each year
nearly one hundred millions in value to make
up for the inadequate production of our own
soil, which amounts to only about IL per
cent. of the whole consumption, and the
privileged introduction of tobacco at reduced
l.xN. tx.. l.. 4
enue and removing the protection from
American products and manufactures. 1t
seems enough to say that the convention
leaves discrimination against the imported
article of from four to five times the internal
revenue duties on American products, and
secures a market, hitherto denied. for special
manufacturers of tobacco, in which we excel,
and which command a profitable market
wherever their importation is permitted A
reduction is urged in many quarters of the
internal revenue tax on the manufacture of
tobacco and this would be loss of some
S25, 900, 900 annually to the public treasury.
This treaty, taken with others of the same
character, stimulates our general exports and
thereby promotes the interest of our manu-
facturies. Alter quoting the various prece-
dents to prove the constitutionality of the
Mexican treaty, the letter concludes rs follows /:
If the Spanish treaty does not meet the ap-
proval of the legislative branch of govern
ment, the representative of popular will can
not fail to perceive. trust, that the Presi-
dent has made an earnest effort to remove
from the field Of dispute the subject of con-
tention, so far as Cuba and Porto Rico are
concerned, and to secure lasting and ncreas-
ing benefit to our agricultural, mandatory
and commercial interests, and to the people
vTN,s .,1 all
and property of our citizens abroad.
| have the honor to be, sir, your obedient
servant,
FREDERICK T. FRELrsGHUrsEN