Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-21
THE TREATY WITH SPAIN.
Reciprocal Concessions Made by the Two
Nations.

Nations.
A Madrid dispatch says: The reciprocity con-
vention between Spain and the United States.
as drafted by Premier Canovas del Castillo
representing Spain, and Gen. j. W. Foster,
representing the United States, is based. as far
as the United States is concerned, upon the
third or reciprocity section Of the new Ameri-
can tariff law. In return for the privilege Of
free entry into the United States of Antilles
sugar molasses, coffee and hides and a reduce
ton of the duty on tea America will obtain ex-
emption from duties on most of her raw and
manufactured products and reduction of the
tariff on cereals and flour.
The negotiations were protracted upon the
question of the entire abolition of the tariff
on cereals, hours and oils, including petroleum
and lard. The same question in regard to to-
bacco was also raised, but, not coming within
the scope OF the third section of the American
tariff law, was put aside. Premier Canovas
offered protracted resistance to the abolition Of
the tariff on flour. Barcelona and Santander
traders. who are largely interested in flour
shipments, presented energetic protests,
which fortified the minister in his indisposi-
ton to accede to the American proposals.
Eventually representations that American
reciprocity would be impossible without the
Tree admission of American cereals induced
Premier Canovas to assent to such a reduction
"a 'no eoriu as Will place american uOur upon
nearly equal footing with Spanish flour.
Santander merchants declare that, taking into
consideration the cost of the transportation of
CASTLE grain. of which the bulk goes to the
Antilles, American -four will crush out the
spanish product in the Spanish West Indies.
Cuba now consumes 100000 barrels Of -four
yearly-chiefy Spanish, which enters free of
duty-and paysfor it s12 per barrel. Trade in
American Hour, burdened with an extra duty
OF ~ per cent since 1889, has been completely
wiped out to the advantage of the Spanish
product.
Under the new convention the entry OF
american flour practically free of duty will
lower the price to about sc per barrel, and
Will extlnguish the importation of Spanish flour,
"nlie increasing the Cuban consumption to a
million barrels yearly, all Of which will be
american product. If the pressure of Spanish
interests had not been counteracted by the de-
mands OF the Cuban commission Of notables,
VINO were determined to obtain reciprocity with
the nlted States, Premier Canovas would have
declined to make such concessions. The pros
pect OF a dangerous tension OF the relations of
spain with Cuba and Porto Rico, resulting pos
Slbly IN civil war, obliged the government to
sacrlnce home industries to colonial interests
nder the new convention America will obtain |
KIND OF zollverein with the Spanish Antilles |
Tier wheat, beans, flour, lard, petroleum, manu- |
actured productsa and machinery will enter prac-
ieally free OF duty. Among other Spanish exports
ohve Oil Will be replaced by American lard. and |
Deans, now exported to Cuba in large quantities !
VIII cease to be sent. The advantages resulting |
20 cuba Will be great, but it is impossible to |
'stlmate the injury to Spanish trade.