The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-18
QUEEN OF THE ANTILLES.
Spain VIII Consent to Cuba's Trad
Ing With America.
mB Witt AfnefiCa.

Washington Despatch to Boston Post1
WASHINGTON, April 16.-The reciprocity
treaty with Spain regarding Cuba has been
completed. The terms will probably be Of
ficially announced by proclamation soon af-
ter the return of the President from his
trip through the South. The Hon. John w.
Foster, who has been negotiating the treaty
at Madrid, will be in Washington within
fortnight. He has been away only about
month, and the result is creditable to his
familiarity with the Spanish tongue and
with Cuban affairs. He had the remorselees
logic of the situation on his side, however,
and he was probably helped rather than
hurt by the publication of the fact In the de-
spatches to the Post that Mr.. Blaine was not
avense to Incorporating "the Queen Of the
Antilles" into the Union IL diplomacy did
not accomplish the results he sought.
The object Of sending Mr.. Foster to Mad
rid was to make clear to the Spanish govern
ment the distinction between the power
which the President hasiover the duties on
sugar, hides, tea and coffee and the power
which he has over the tariff on other arti-
cles The Spanish government was very
desirous that Cuban tobacco should come in
to this country free Of duty, just as sugar
comes in under the reciprocity. clause Of the
Mckinley tariff. The Spanish ministry
seemed for a time unable to comprehend the
fact that tobacco could not be admitted to
our markets free of duty without a special
treaty outside Of the provisions OF the reel
procty clause ahd requiring ratification by
two-thirds vote of the Senate
Mr.. Foster had definite instructions and he
followed them. He first made clear to the
Spanish authorities the distinction between
the powers of the President over sugar and
his powers over tobacco. He then stated
that our government could not consent in
any event to the admission to this country of
Cuban tobacco free Of duty: The Mckinley
tariff. he pointed out, was framed for the es-
peclal benefit OF American tobacco growers,
ana the duties. were enormously advanced.
He had been instructed to point out that
these duties were part Of the fabric of pro-
tectlon, and could not be abolished without
exposing the entire edifice TO danger. This
duty he fulfilled Is so thorough a manner
that the Spanish government promptly gave
way. They desired first to open Cuban mar
kets to few articles of no great commercial
Importance in return for the opening of our
markets to free sugar. They then proposed.
Should ADMIT AmercaS o1f to O. Ua6sH at tie re-
duced duties In return for the admission of
Cuban tobacco to this country.
Mr.. Foster made 1t clear that the State De-
partment would not consent to such an ar
reasonable return for free sugar, the duty on
sugar would be re-imposed on January /,
1892.
Mr.. Foster had the advantage over the
Spanish government of Offering them the al
tentative of accepting his terms or inviting
insurrecti0n In Cuba, which was likely to
end in the loss of the island and its anneXa-
tion to the United States. That Mr.. Blaine
was ready for this alternative has several
times been pointed out in these dispatches.
The concessions that Span makes in the
new treaty can never be recalled without en-
dangering her sway in Cuba, and these same
concessions will bring Cuba into closer sym
pathy with this country.