The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-12-28
STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN SPAIN
ANDTnE UNITED STATES.

Interesting developments are expected
at an early day result of the strained
relations between the United States and
Spain over the tariff. Spain has already
placed the United States in the first col
umn, and Secretary Gresham has reioin
ed by directing Minister Taylor at Madrid
to notify the Spanish government that if
the United States is not removed from the
first column. this country will rctaliate
In official circles it is not believed that
Spain will yield to the protest of Secretary
Gresham. In that event if the Secretary
carries out his threat of retaliation PrcSi
dent Cleveland will issue a proclamation
closing American ports to the products of
Spain. The first effect of this retaliation
would be to shut out the enormous ship
ments of raw sugar which Cuba makes to
this country. In official circles it is said
that Cuba furnishes seven-e ghths of all the
raw sugar used in American rc.inrrieS.
The other eli ght comes from Louisiana and
Hawaii, but it is said that it would he I'M
possible to make up this seven-eighth now
drawn from Cuba. 1t is asserted. there
fore by those in no way identified with or
partial to the sugar rctincrieS. that the re-
taliation would cut them off from their
supplies and close them up throwing 90
900 employees out of work
This statement was made bv a high Off
cial. who has had much to do with the ne
.l,.,
of its results He added that the ultimate
effect of the warfare would be to advance
the plice of sugar from three to six cents
per pound, thus making the public bear
the burden. In lcvyiny duties Spain ar
ranges countries in two columns. The first
column includes those who have not en-
tered into satisfactory treaty arrano clnent>
with Spain. Until recently Brazil was the
the only country on the globe which Spain
had put in this column, all other countries
being in the second column" which in
cludeS those having satisfactory treaties
The United States now joins Brazil in
Spain'S first column" and thus stands
apart from all other countries in the COM
merclal benefits Spain grants.
The immediate effect of SPANS action
has already proved disastrous to the
American trade in flour and this trade has
passed almost exclusively into the hands
of Canada. Under the old reciprocity ar
rangcment with Spain American flour was
shipped to Cuba i'll great quantities. But
when the United States tariff raised the
duty on Cuban sugar, Spain responded by
raising the duty on American flour The
first column" duty on flour is $40. while
the second column" is 81 As Canada is
in the second column she enjoys an advan-
tage of - cents a barrel on flour. and this
has proved ample to allow Canada to wreSt
the Cuban flour trade away from the
United States. 1t is understood from au-
lucrative sources that question has been
raised as to the right of the President to
issue retaliatory proclamation against
Spain, such as Secretary Gresham has
threatened.
This proclamation. if made would he
under law of 1890. which authorizes re-
discrimination against the United States
But Spain claims She is maxim" no uniuS,
discrimination: she arrangcs her tariff in
two columns according to whether coun-
tries are friendly or unfricndlv to her and
leaves the countries to choose their own
place. The recent American tariff putting
sugar on the dutiable list had the effect of
placing this country III Spain first col
umn without any intentional discriminate
ton on her part. Under these circum-
stances it is urged that Secretary Grcsh-
am has no authority to invoke the rctalia-
tory law of 1890
The contcnding views are now being
urged between Minister Tavlor and mem
bcrs of the Spanish cabinet and definite
suits are expected this week.