Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-20
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Full Statement OF the Action of the Re.
cent Meeting In Havana.

cent Meeting In Havana.
THE ADDRESS PREPARED 1T rHr oEAxnxu Or
COMMERCE REcooSIzEs THE IMPORTANCE TO
cuBA OF LrBERALIrY TO THE UNITED srArxs
WHICH CONTROLS TIE xARKxT or rns woRIp.
There has been considerable controversy ~
to the attitude Of the people OF Cuba with rsls-
ton TO reciprocity with the United States. II
was frequently stated in Congress that Cuba
did not want reciprocity with uk brief dis.
patch received a few DAYS ago stating that the
chamber OF commerce at Havana had passed
RESOLUTIONS asking for . reciprocity treaty 70 be
made at once attracted considerable attention
The Secretary OF State has received from the
chamber OF commerce q full statement OF the
action Of the meeting referred TO in the brief
dispatch.
The address OF the chamber 10 the minister
OF the colonies treats OF the reform OF the
Spanish tariff laws The attention OF the min
lister is called to the financial condition of
Cuba, which" they say, lis far from being
prosperous and which may become even worse
than II now Is II, as Is possible the principle of
reciprocity is definitely adopted in the tariff Of
the United States. with which nation our com.
merclaI relations are so important and il the
changes made IN our tariffs are not such a. 70
correspond with that reform"
Inv Sthpt TO BIZ EEpTAIInI
It was resolved that the preparation OF the
new tariffs for the Cuban custom houses must
be preceded by the repeal or modification Of
the act OF July 20, lss2, which regulates the
commercial regulations Of Cuba with spain.
because that act creates insuparable obstacles
to the development Of Cuba's foreign commerce.
which Is as indispensable 20 the encouragement
OF the cultivation of the principal products OF
their soil as it is to furnish the means 20
meet the demands of their revenue. IL 10 conn
planned that the consumption OF sugar and to-
bacco produced in the Antilles is so limited in
the spanish peninsula that the producers
are compelled TO seek other markets for their
! commodities. The law of July 20 1882 which
| apparently favors the productions OF the penin-
suis, since it abolishes all duties thereon when
they are introduced into Cuba and whose ap-
parent tendency 10 TO cheaper goods imported
from Spain, is IN reality the cause OF incalcula-
BILE injury, for Cuba cannot expect more favor
able treatment in foreign markets for her pro-
ducts than is accorded in Cuban ports to for.
eign goods.
cUBA's PORTS MUST BE MADE rRrrR
The declaration states further that il is evil
dent that if Cuba is to remain an essentially
producing and commercial country it's ports
must be kept open to the commerce Of the
world; they must constantly be made freer aud
freer within the limits of produce. and all re-
strictions, such as those established by the
present law, should be sedulously avoided .
~ An eNhtS0 W bt UNANIMOUS opinion OF
| the commercial bodies Of Cuba that almost all
the markets of Europe are closed TO Cuba's
| principal neutrality-suspicious. European
countries are also sugar producers; so that, as
the Facts are constantly proving, the greatest
| market for Cuban goods is the nation whose
ports lie at her very door-the United States.
THE UNITED STATES REGULATks THE COMMERCIAL
| MARKET.
1t is declared by the chamber Of commerce,
with the authority which it derives not only
from its collective character, but also from the
perfect knowledge possessed by its members Of
| the present general situation of the production
and consumption Of the world. that the United
States are today the regulators Of the CONNER
cial market, just as England is OF the money
market. The law makers Of the United States,
the address declares, know perfectly well that
the people whom they represent have an
abundance Of cheap bread, meat, beer, fuel
and clothing-the necessaries OF life. They
know that by imposing heavy duties upon the
manufactured goods Of Europe they favor the
development of their own industries, compel
the weli-to-do classes to pay indirect taxes,
and that they have no cause 30 fear reprisals,
as European nations have to fear them from
each other, because such reprisals would have
| to apply to cereals, meats, petroleum, &C,
which are the very articles that those nations
absolutely require.
SPAIN MUST HAVE our WHEAT.
"Your excellency," the address adds, 'rhas Q
proof of this incontestable truth in Spain ITSELF
which Is per excellence a wheat-producing
country and which, in spite Of that fact, is
obliged TO make good the deficiency Of its own
wheat crop by importations from the United
States. The question is resolved TO PROPOSE
ton to the United States like this: You give us
bread and we give you sugar."
The address urges upon the minister OF colo
| mics the importance Of promptly meeting the
situation by reciprocity treaty with the United
States. Especially is this urged to keep abreast
OF Brazil, VINO is prompt to take advantage Of
| the opening for a market in the United States.