The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-22
Important Advantages Which the United
States Will Enjoy Exclusively, and Which
Will Furnish New Market
A Remarkable Libel Suit Against a Son
Of Chief-Justice COleridge.
Peace Negotiations Between France and China
Again Broken 0ff-Rayages of Disease
Among the Mahdi's Troops
THE NEW TREATY WITH SPAIN.
Text of the Agreement Negotiated by Ger
John w, Foster


John w. Foster.
MADRID, Nov 21.-The treaty of commercial
reciprocity between the United States and Spain
for Cuba and Porto Rico just concluded is the
most complete reciprocity treaty ever negotiated
by our government, embracing not only the ex-
change of products, but also special shipping
privileges for the vessels of the two nations,
abolishing all tonnage and consular fees the same
as for the national vessels engaged in the coast
ing trade. 1t also contains special privileges for
commercial travellers reforms in the Cuban Gus
toms, regulations concerning fines, and the re-
sponsbility of vessels for errors when fraud has
not been proved; and it contains besides stipu-
lation against the imposition of new export taxes
A clause, not in any of our other treaties, ad-
Nuts from Cuba and Porto Rico, free of duty,
sugar not above No 16 Dutch standard; molas-
ses, coffee, dye and other woods, cacao, fruits,
leaf manufactured at a reduction of so per cent.
of the present tariff rates. but the tobacco is to
pay internal revenue taxes.
These concessions on the part of the United
States are in exchange for United States prod
ucts to be admitted to Cuba and Porto Rico free
of duty, of which the following is a partial list
All kinds of meats, lard, butter cheese. fish,
grains, rice meal hours wheat flour exeepted),
vegetables, fruits (1reSn, dr1eu ana canneQt,
wood, lumber, window, door-framing, ETC.; all
kinds of cooperage. boxes, sacks for packing all
articles, and furniture of ordinary woods; all
kinds of articles in cast-iron, heavy articles in
wrought-iron and steel; all kinds of tools and in
struments; all kinds of machines for agriculture,
the arts, trades and industries, including locomo
tlves for railway stock; shipbulding materials,
and almost ali products in the raw and bulk, as
cotton, wool, stone, earths, minerals and mateTi-
ais for construction; cattle, sheep, hogs ETC.,
(alive); fertilizers coal, ice, ale, beer, mineral
waters, printed books lbound and unbound) on
the free lists.
This is followed by list of manufactures of
the United States at reduced rates embracing
almost all kinds of articles produced in our coun-
try. Cotton fabrics are specially favored also
glass, pottery ware, leather, harness, saddlery,
fine articles of iron, steel, copper, brass and tin
plated ware, tobacco leaf for chewing gutta-
percha and rubber goods, fine furniture, ear
riages, wagons, willow-ware, brooms, etc; coal,
oil, SALT crackers, candles and fsoap There is
long list of other things in paragraphs of
the schedule of United States articles to the
number of nearly 200 covering several hundred
goods.
The benefits of the treaty, so far as the
carrying trade is concerned, will be confined
to the two countries This is an important
point for American shipping as British and
other vessels will not enjoy the profits Of the
treaty. $50.
Great opposition was made by Spain to any re-
duction in -four on account of the monopoly long
fnd1IUh1neu Dy OdSlit1dH WnedG growers, Dub IL
was finally induced to mako large CONCESSIONS.
1t is understood that the duty in Cuba is to be
on the same footing as that of Spain, being q re-
duction of about $50 per barrel
One of the most difficult points in the negotia-
ton has been concerning the most favored nation
clause in Spanish treaties, as Spain in her com
snercial conventions with most nations of Europe
England excepted) had stipulated to extend to
them in Cuba and Porto Rico all favors which
she might concede to any nation.
Mr.. Foster contended that the favored nation
clause must be interpreted to mean that favors
should be extended only with the condition of
reciprocity attached-that is to say, that Ger
many or France in order to obtain the same
favors as the United States must pay the same
price as the United States in tariff reductions,
etc.
This position was strongly resisted by these
nations, which brought all their influence to
bear on Spain to defeat the treaty, but Mr. Foss-
ter succeeded in carrying his point, and Oh
tanned specific stipulation in the treaty to that
effect.
The treaty will go into operation as soon as
ratified by Congress, as the Cortes conferred
full powers on the Ministry not only to make
the treaty, but to ratify it and put it in opera
ton.
Mr.. Foster having successfully concluded the
main object of his mission, will return TO the
United States immediately anl resume his resi-
dence in Washington. His family already pre-
ceded him several weeks ago.