The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-10
TREATY WITH SPAIN.
How the Cuban Reciprocity
Agreement Was Framed.
SKETCH or THE NEGOTIATIONS.
General FOSTER, Minister Grub, senior
Canovas. the Duke Of TituaA
and SENIOR liable.

MADRID, April 26-fSpecial Correspond
ence. Some surprise was caused in POI
litical and diplomatic circles at Madrid
when ex-Minister John w. Foster APP
peared in the Spanish capital as the en-
voy extraordinary on special mission from
the United States government, and with
Mr.. James G. Blaine, jr., Is his private
secretary. Old-fashioned diplomatists and
politicians thought this special mission
might perhaps be rather unpalatable to
the present minister of the United States,
General Grub, who 10 very popular in
Madrid society, and to his active and in
telligent first secretary, Mr.. Newherry,
who is equally popular in our clubs and
drawing-rooms. This impression was,
however, soon dispelled when the Spanish
press and statesmen themselves pointed
out that General Foster had been
selected for completing the nego-
tiations for an agreement of re-
ciprocity, not only because he was well
acquainted with the Castilian language,
with tho ways Of Spanish governments on
both sides Of the Atlantic, owing to long
stay IN Mexico and to q more recent stay
Of several years in Madrid as representa-
tive of the United States so late as 1885,
1885, but because he had conducted in 1884
with cabinet also provided by Senior
Canovas del Castillo, negotiations for
treaty OF reciprocity between the United
States and the Spanish West Indies and
Spain herself. That treaty failed to obtain
the sanction of the American Senate only
because many European nations had then
treaties in force which contained 'smost
favored nation" clause that entitled them,
even in Spanish colonies, to any advantage
granted to other countries. All these
treaties having been denounced by Spain
in January, 1891, in order that they may
expire in February, 1892, General Foster
this time found the road cleared of diff
culties which were insurmountable six
years ago.
Spaniards found that General Foster
had aged in personal appearance since he
left Spain five years ago, but Canovas del
Castillo, the Spanish premier; Duke de
Tituan and Senior Liable, the minister of
foreign affairs and colonies, soon discov-
cred that the special envoy was quite as
equal as formerly to the task of negotiat-
ing reciprocity treaty under the more
modest title of agreement of reciprocity"
Foster, they say, has quiet, self-possessed
way of mooting questions, of analyzing all
the aspects of the problem, and of meet
ing objections that show q lawyer behind
the polite diplomatist who speaks Antil-
liam and French equally well. Then again
he showed Spanish statesmen that his fiy-
ing visit recently to Cuba and his stay in
Spain have made him thoroughly &C
quainted with the West Indian and purely
Spanish interests, that clash in this recip-
rocity treaty, and which so sadly perplex
and embarrass the Antillian premier
and his colleagues. Foster knew they
would fain avert the inevitable explosion
Of Cuban disaffection, the growth of the
separatist and annexationist agitations in
Cuba, the latent discomfort of the autono-
mists, the increasing displeasure even of
an influential part of the so-called penin-
sular party in Havana, that would all
combine to shake to its very foundations
Spanish rule in Cuba and Porto Rico, if
those islands lost their American markets.
He felt that they are equally pressed by
the powerful protectionist interests in
Spain, manufacturers, farmers, agriculture
lists, shipowners. merchants, hour dealers,
politicians and their needy clients, who
all resent the idea of tolerating American
competition in the West Indian markets.
Indeed, they one and all frankly confess
they would prefer to open their colonies
to European nations imports sooner than
to the dreaded influence and competition
of the United States" to use the very
words of an ex-minister Of foreign affairs
in Madrid.
Nevertheless the special envoy of the
United States knew his basis was good |
one to plead, and he doggedly exposed to |
Tah nd l.
Tituan that President Harrison and Mr.. |
Blame can give West Indian sugars, mo-
lasses, coffee, skins, etc. very advantageous |
conditions, if Spain only lowers the duties |
that are levied in Cuba and in Porto Rico. |
upon American flour, breadstuffs gener- |
ally, preserved meats, petroleum, some |
manufactured goods and all sorts of ma |
chinery. Spain would like to add tobacco |
to the agreement of reciprocity, not only |
the raw material, but the cigars of Ha- |
vana, too, only American diplomacy under |
the Mckinley tariff cannot promise more |
than to submit this petition to congress |
some day, and everybody knows that some |
day, in diplomatic phraseology, generally
means long day.
Out of regard for the traditional rules of |
etiquette in such matters, the Duke of |
Tituan and Senior liable were supposed to |
be officially the negotiators on the Spanish |
side; whereas in reality Senior Canovas
and General Foster discussed and settled |
all the most important points exactly as |
they did when they negotiated the earlier |
convention in the reign of the late King |
Alfonso XII.
Duke de Tituan is the nephew of one of |
SPANS greatest soldiers, Marshall O'Don-
nell. who led the Spanish army in the
Morocco campaign of 1S59-6O, where he
won his title under the walls of the old |
Moorish city of Tituan. The present min
lister of foreign affairs inherited his duke
dom and grandeeship of the first class
because his uncle died without heirs.
male or female, after being twice prime
minister of Queen Isabella The DIXIE aa