Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-22
CUBA'S POSITION.
How She Stands in Regard to
the Mckinley Bill,
And Particularly the Recip-
rocity Feature.

Ihe havana GhamDer OF commerce hec-
Ognizes the United States Government
Ms Regulator of the Economical
Market of the Worid-We arc Also In
different to Retaliation.
WASHINGTON, Oct 22.-The depart
ment of state has received copy of the
minutes Of the debates which have re-
Gently taken place in the chamber Of
commerce of Havana with reference to
the Mckinley ILL and the question Of
reciprocity. The statement, which was
transmitted to the Spanish minister of
the colonies, was accompanied by let
ter from Segundo Alyares, president,
and Saturnino Martinez, secretary gen.
eral, of the chamber, which shows the
existence of strong sentiment favor,
able to reciprocal relations with the
United States.
This statement was s mt to the minis
ter in response to essage from him
requesting suggestions from the cham
Der as TO any notifications desired in
the proposed Lew Cuban tariff. The
letter says the chamber thought it
proper not only TO consider the new
Cuban tariff bill, but co-relative mat
tiers Which, owing to their natural and
logical connection, directly affect the
financial condition of these provinces,
which is far from being prosperous, and
which may become even worse than it
now is it, as is possible, the principle of
reciprocity il deiini ely adopted in the
tariff of the United States, and if the
changes made i'll our tariffs are not
such rs to correspond with that re-
form"
The writers further say that the new
Cuban tariff proposed by Spain mus. be
preceded by the repeal of the act OF
1882. because that act creates insupera-
BILE obstacles to the development of the
foreign commerce of Cuba, which is in
dispensable to the encouragement of the
cultivation of its products.
The consumption of sugar and to-
bacco produced in the Antilles, they
say, is so limited in the Spanish penin-
sula that Cuban producers are COM
PEELED to seek other markets for their
commodities.
The law Of 1882, which abolishes i'm.
port duties on goods coming from Spain,
Is stated to be the cause of incalculable
injury, for Cuba must not expect more
favorable treatment in foreign markets
for its productions than is accorded in
its ports to foreign goods. 1t is here,
they say, that the pernicious effects of
the law have become manifest. The
conditions are such that the trade be-
tween the mother country and the coli
onies is not sufficient for their support.
I'VE have become convinced" the letter
continues, that our production will de-
cay and die out if we are debarred from
offering our productions in those mar
kets where they would really find con-
sumers, on the same terms of which
similar goods are offered by other coun-
tries" The opinion of all Cubans is
that this law which interferes with
their trade should be repealed; with
equal unanimity, the writers add, it is
considered that the greatest market for
Cuban goods is the nation whose ports
lie Mt its very door.
The chamber of commerce, they say,
does not hesitate to affirm that the
United States are to-day the regulators
of the economical market, just as Eng
land is of the money market. The law
makers of the United States, they
further say, know perfectly well that
the people whom they represent have
mn abundance of the necessaries of life.
Tn know that lv imposing heavy
dutl, urOn the IN u ufactured goods Of
Europe ihev favor the development of
their own Industries. compel the we'll
to-do class es to pay indirect taxes and
that they have no cause to fear Eu-
roI can reprisals, because such reprisals
would have to apply to cereals, meat.
petroleum. etc, which are the very
articles that those nations absolutely
require.
The United States care but little for
reciprocity with Europe, for they know
that Europe has need of them, and they
will grant it or refuse it, as may
suit their own interests They
care great deal, however, for recip-
rocity with the nations of America, and
are seeking b. establish it. They want
sugars Cf low grade for their refineries,
also coffee, Lilies n d timber, and they
think they can get them by reciprocity.
Attention is then called to the fact
that Brazil is rrt pairing to secure the
market # the United States for its
sugar, and TO the additional fact that
the government is encouraging sugar
production by large loan to planters.
The manner in which Brazil wrested
from Cuba the palm Of being the chief
coffee producer is alluded to, and
warning is sounded that the same thing
may happen with regard TO sugar
The letter closes with The expression
of the hope that the gravity Of these
economical problems in the Antilles will
receive the attention they deserve, and
with the aIprehensions well founded
the writers think that Cuban produc-
tions, especially sugar, may be unable
to compete in The North American
market with that Of other sugar-pro-
ducing countries.