Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-21
TaE SPANISH TREATY
Very Advantageous to the Antilles But
Death to Spain.

MADRID, April 2O.-The reciprocity
convention between Spain and the Uni
ted 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
American tariff law. In return for the
privilege of free entry into the United
States of Antilles sugar, mOlasses, cof-
fee and hides, and reduction OF the
duty on tea, America will obtain eXemp-
tion from duties on most OF her raw and
manufactured products and reduction
of tariff on cereals and flour. The
negotiations were protracted upon the
the question OF the entire a6oli-
tion OF the tariff on cere-
ais. nours and oils, including
petroleum and lard. The same ques-
ton in regard TO tobacco was also rails
ed. but not coming within the scope OF
the third section OF the American tariff
law, was put aside, Premier Canovas
offered protected resistance to the abo-
lition OF the tariff on flour.
Barcelona and Santander traders,
who are largely interested in iloue ship
ments. presented one hundred protests,
which fortified the Minister in his in
disposition TO accede TO the American
proposals. Eventually representations
that American reciprocity would be i'm
possible with the free admission OF
American cereals induced Premier
~ u mot M
the tariff as will place American flour
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
500. 600 barrels of flour yearly, chiefly
Spanish, which enters free OF duty and
pays for it Sl2 per barrel. Trade in
American flour burdened with an extra
duty OF % per cent. since 1889 has been
completely wiped out to the
advantage of the Spanish pro-
duct. Under the new cOnven-
tion the entry of American flour practi-
cally free of duty will lower the price to
about Sc per barrel and will extinguish
the importation OF Spanish -four, while
increasing the Cuban consumption to a
million barrels yearly, all Of which will
be American product. II the pressure
of Spanish interests had not been coun-
teracted by the demands OF the Cuban
Commission of notables, WhO were de-
termined to obtain reciprocity with the
United States, Premier Canovas would
have declined to make such concessions.
The prospect of dangerous tension
of the relations OF Spain with
Cuba and Porto Rico. resulting pos
sibly in civil war obliged the
government to sacrifice home in
dustries to colonial industries. Under
the new convention America will OBJ
tain kind OF zOll-veren with the Span
sh Antilles. Her wheat, beans, -four,
lard, petroleum, manufactured products
and machinery will enter practically
free OF duty. Among other Spanish ex-
ports olive oil will be replaced by
American lard and beans, now exported
to Cuba in large quantities, will cease
to be sent. The advantages resulting
to Cuba will be great, but 1t is impossi-
BILE TO estimate the injury to Spanish
trade