The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09
1T MAY RE ABANDONED.
Our Reciprocity Treaty with Spain Docs Not
Work Well.

Washington, May AN evening paper
has this: Abundant reasons for the aban-
donment OF The policy of reciprocity under
the Mckinley bill exists in the complaints
received by the state department regarding
the eyasions of the treaty by Spanish Off
Gals III Cuba. The Spanish government
was forced into the treaty by the diplomacy
of Mr.. Blaine because of the fear that If
the Cuban sugar growers were deprived OF
their market in the United States through
reciprocity arrangements with other sugar
growing countries, they would rise in revolt
against Spain. The government apparently
intends to make the treaty so unpopular
that it will fall to the ground of lis own
weight, and has imposed an excise tax near
~ equal to the duties RENTED by the Me
kinley bill The Spanish minister gave
the assurance when the negotiations were
i'll progress that no export or port fTty,
national or provincial, should be imposed
Oh exports which the United States adj
mitted free of duty, but the new excise,
although levied on sugar for domestic con-
sumption, practically accomplShcS the pur-
pose of an export duty. Our government
will either protest strongly against this tax
or wipe out the whole treaty and leave the
Cuban growers to face a possible import
duty under our new tariff.
The Spanish government has already
shown its inclination to make trouble by its
action regarding the schedules of articles
which duties were reduced by the treaty.
at WASHINGTON as the result of consultation
between the Spanish minister and the state
department. but Spain has twice prepared
schedules of her own, and Secretary Foster
sent a strong protest last summer to Mad
rid against this violation of the treaty
The Brazilian government is also making
trouble over the treaty with that country.
but is not apparently violating the treaty
tlagrantly as the government of Spain. 1t
was understood when the schedules of dis
ordinations in favor of the United States
were made that the general scale of Brill
ian import duties might be raised The dis
examinations in favor of this country were
based upOn reductions of - per cent on the
duties levied on imports, from other cOun-
tries. whatever those might be Brazil took
advantage OF this arrangement to raise her
dutiable schedules soon after the reciproci-
tv arrangement waS made and she was
obliged to do 80 in order to obtain sufficient
revenue for carrying on the federal govern-
ment. The result has been very small
net gain to American merchants, while The
people of Brazil are complaining of the in
creased schedules against other countries
and the complications arising from the dis
ordinations in favor Of the United States.
The reciprocity arrangements with both
Spain and Brazil would probably be wipod
out ut once. but for the desire of the admin
istration to proceed with dclberatOn and
to make our policy toward the southern
countries dependent upon revision Of our
rho Cuban In.nrrection.
Washington, May 5.~-Secretary Gresham
has received letter from the United States;
consul general at Havana. dated April
Goth, forwarding copy OF the proclamation
issued April 2Sth by the governor general
of Cuba, already published. declaring the
province of Santiago de Cuba in Il state
Of siege. The reason given for the meas
ure is that some bands OF men have risen
in arms against the government in the
hamlets of Vel;ls'o and Puerta, near the
northern coast OF t. province. for the
Immediate suppression OF winch active mill
tary means are now being taken by the
government.
The consul general says that, according
to the newspapers the bands number about
one hundred persons. while rumor gives
their number all the way from 500 to 700
men This letter was the first official in
formation received by the state depart