Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-24
THE SPANISH TREATY.


convention with Spain, Cuba
and Porto Rico.
The treaty Of commercial reciprocitv
between the United States and srain for
cuba and Porto Rico just concluded. saws
adrid cable special of Nov. 10 to the
$9rk Herald, is the most compIete
reeIt~N treaty ever negotiated bv our
government, embracing not only the ex-
change Of products, but also special ship
ping privileges for the vessels of the two
nations, abOllshing all tonnage and con-
sular lees on vessels and cargOes and
making all other fees the same as for the
national vessels engaged in the coasting
tIdue. II also contains special privileges
IoI commercial travellers, reforms in the
Cuban customs regulations CONCERNING
lines and the responsibility of vessels for
errors when raud has not been proved:
ana 1t contains besides a stipulation
against the imposition Of new EXPORT
taxes.
ARTICLES FREE FROM CUBA AND PORTO
RICO.
A clause, not in any of u other treat
les, admits from Cuba and Porto Rico
Tree OF duty sugar not above No. is Dutch
standard; mOlasses, coffee, dive and other
woods, cacaO, fruits, vegetables and some
other products, tobacco leaf manufacs
@~@@@ - VI ~ DEI I'll OI me
present tariff rates, but the tobacco is to
paw internal revenue taxes.
Ihese concessions on the part of the
united states are IN exchange for United
states products to be admitted TO Cuba
and Porto Rico free Of duty, of which the
following Is a partial list:
ARTICLES FREE FROM THE UNITED
YATES.
All kinds of meat, lard. butter. cheese.
D fish arrrFnE Rfan mol a,~-F-l-An E
excepted ,, vegetables, fruits fresh. dried
and canned }, wood, lumber, window, door
I framing. etc; all kinds of coODerace.
boxes, sacks for packing all articles, and
furniture Of ordinary woods; all kinds of
articles in cast iron, heavy articles in
wrought iron and in steel; all kinds of
tools and instruments; all kinds of ma
chimes for agriculture, the arts. trades
and Industries, including locomotives for
railway stock; shipbuilding materials
and almost all products in the raw and
bulk, as cotton, wool, stone, earths, min
erals and materials for construction: cat
tie, sheep, hogs, etc. (alive); fertilizers,
coal, ice, ale, beer, mineral waters, printed
books tbound and unbOundl on the free
lists.
AMERICAN MANUFACTURES AT REDUCED
DUTIES.
This is fOllowed by a list of manufac-
lures OF the United States at reduced
rates. embracing almost ali kinds of arti-
cles produced in orr country. Cotton
fabrics are specially favored; also glass,
potteryware, leather, harness, saddlery,
line articles of iron, steel, copper, brass
and tln-plated ware, tobacco leaf for
chewing, gutta percha and rubber goods,
fine furniture, carriages, wagons, willow
ware, bTO0ms, ETC., coal, oil. salt, crack
ers, candles and soap. There is a long
list OF other things in paragraphs of the
schedule of United States articles to the
number OF nearly 200, covering several
hundred goods.
BENEFITS OF THE TREATY.
The benefits Of the treaty, so far as the
carrying trade is concerned, viii be con-
fined to the two countries. This is an i'm
pOrtant point for American shipping, as
British and other vessels will not enjoy
the profits of the treaty.
Great opposition was made by Spain to
any reduction in flour on account of the
monopoly long maintained by Castilian
wheat growers, but it vas finally induced
to make large concessions. 1t is under
stood that the duty in Cuba is to be on
the same footing as that of Spain, being a
reduction Of about So per barrel.
THE FAVORED NATION CLAUSE.
One Of the most difficult points in the
negotiation has heen concerning the most
favored nation Clause in Spanish treaties,
as Spain. in her commercial conventions
with most nations of Europe England
eXcepted) had stipulated to extend to
chem IA Cuba and Porto Rico all tavors
which she might cOncede to any nation.
Dir. Foster c0ntended that the favored
cation clause must be interpreted to mean
that tavors should be extended only with
the con ltion Of reciprocity attached
that IS 10 say, hat Germany or France, in
order 20 obtain the same favOrs as the
United States. must pay the sam price
rs tue United States in tariff reductions,
etc.
MR.. FOSTERS SUCCESS.
This position was strongly resisted by
these nations, which brought all their
influence to bear on Spain to defeat the
treaty, but Mr.. Foster succeeded in carry
ing his point, aud obtained 4 specific
stipulation in the treaty to that effect.
The treaty viii 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 il in operation.