The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-04-24
SPANISH RECIPROCITY.
Treaty with the United States
Regarding Cuba.

Washington Special.
| The reciprocity treaty with Spain re-
lgsrding Cuba has been completed. Ths
terms will probably be officially an
inounced by proclamation soon alter ths
return Of the President from bis triE
Through the South. The Hon. John w
Foster. who has been negotiating the
treaty At Madrid. will be In Washing ON
within fortnight. He has been away
Ionly about : month aud the result Il
lcreditable 10 his diplomatic skill aud his
with the Spanish tongue aud
with Cuban affairs. He had the re.
Imorseless logic Of the situation on his
helped rather than hurt by the publica-
|tion OF the fact in the dispatches that
Mr.. Blaine was not sverse TO incorpor.
ating "the Queen Of the Antilles" into
the Union II diplomacy did not accom-
plish the results be sought.
The object Of sending Mr.. Foster %
Madrid was to make clear to the Span.
ish government the distinction be.
tween the power which the Presiden
had over the duties on sugar, hides, tea
and coffee. and the power he has over
the tariff on other articles. The Spsnish
was very desirous that
Cuban tobacco should come into this
country free OF duty. just % sugar comes
in under the reciprocity clause Of the
Mckinley tariff. The Spanish ministry
seemed for . time unable to comprehend
the fact that tobacco could not be admit
ted to our markets free Of duty without
. special treaty outside Of the provisions
OF the reciprocity clsuse and requiring
ratification by = tWo-thirds vote Of the
Senate.
Mr.. Foster had definite instructions
and he followed them lie first made
clear to the Spanish authorities the dis.
tinction between the powers Of the Pres.
ident over sugar aud his powers over to-
bacco. He then stated that our Govern
ment could not consent in any event to
the admission to thia country Of Cuban
tobacco free Of duty. The Mckinley
tariff. he pointed out, was fram I'd Tor the
especial benefit Of American tobacco
gro wers, aud the duties were enor.
linousIy advanced. He had been iu.
Istructed to point out that these duties
were Q part of the fabric OF protection
and could not he abolished without ex.
ip0sing the entire ediflce 10 danger. Thil
duty be fulfilled in 90 thorough man.
Iner that the Spanish Government
lprousptly rave wsy. They slesired q
|Grst TO open Cub.n marke,s tn few ar
Iticlee Of no greet commercial importance
In return Tor the opening Of oUr markets
Ito free sugar. They then proposed ths
ID separate treaty be made In which they
should admit American fiour 20 Cura .
reduced duties in return for the admis
sion Of Cuban tobacco 10 this country.
| Mr.. Poster made II clear that the Statt
4 Department would not consent 10 sucl
On arrangement. aud that II Spain dit
mot yield . reasonable return for fre'
sugar. the duty on sugar would be re-
imposed on Jan. I. l892.
4 Mr. Foster had the advantage over III
4 ESpanish government Of Offering then
the alternative Of accepting his terms o.
Inviting insurrecti0n with Cnbs, which
Was likely 10 end in the loss Of the islsnt
iand ita anne xation 10 the United States
That M. Blaine was ready for this alter
Instive has several times been pointes
Iout Ia these dispatches. The concession
that Spain makes In the new treaty caI
never be recslled without endsngerinI
her sway in Cubs. and these same con
lceseions will bring Cubs into close
lsympathy with this country.
Il