The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-18
He Has Threatened to Retaliate ff the
Heavy Embargo ON Our Trade with
Cuba he Not Raised.
MAXIMUM TARIFF IMPOSED
IN RETURN FOR ABRoGATIoy or THE
NKINLEY RECIPROCITY TREATY.
other Matters Also n Source OF Trouble
speech by Turpie Against Nor
gan's Nicaragua Canal Bill.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-An Associated
Press dispatch from Madrid says: ''Mr.
Taylor the United States minister to-day
had an important conference with Senior
Groizard. Minister for Foreign Affairs. rela-
tive to the imposition OF excessive duties
upon imports into Cuba from the United
States. He informed the Senor that he had
been directed by his government to inform
the government of Spain that IL IT per
sisted in exacting these discriminating du-
ties the action could be regarded by the
President only inviting the exercise by
him OF the power of retalis tion conferred
by the act of 1890. This threat caused a
commotion in ministerial circles"
The action OF the State Department fndi-
Gated in the above cablegram fn warning
the Spanish government OF its intention TO
resort to retaliation should Spain continue
its present policy with respect TO American
exports TO Cuba win doubtless have the
effect to bring at once 10 a focus the long
drawn out negotiations which have been in
progress, with results very unsatisfactory
to our own government None Of our for
eign relations have of late given us so much
trouble as those with Spain. For several
years this government has been urging the
claims of American exporters for restitu-
tion of heavy fines and excessive tariff
taxes. amounting to about s5.0o0000. These
taxes and fines have been imposed by the
Cuban customs officers i'm direct violation OF
all treaties and absolutely without any
other warrant than existing necessity Tor
funds. The Spanish government practically
admitted the justice OF our claims, but
failed TO make restitution. Then there was
the old Mora claim against Spain-a veteran
of many years-already admitted by the
Spanish government. but impossible OF col
lection. Efforts have been made 10 get
the first class of claims before an arbitra-
ton tribunal, but these efforts have 30 far
failed. because OF the insistence OF the
Spanish government that the Mora claim
already decided in our favor-should be in
cluded in matters submitted TO the tribunal
While these EIatters were languishing
under the delays peculiar TO Spanish diplo-
macy there followed the last action by
the Spanish government (which promises
to precipitate a tariN war-unless Spain
comes to terms This was the imposition OF
the maximum tariff on American exports to
Cuba, probably i'm retaliation for the cam
collation. of the reciprocity agreement en-
tered into under the terms OF the Mckinley
act The Spanish government has two tar
iff schedues-one the minimum tariff per-
mitted to countries with which Spain is
upon amcable trade relations, the other
the maximum tariff imposed upon countries
which do not yield to Spanish demands in
the matter of dues. The miximum tariff
being imposed upon American exports had
the effect to almost altogether cut them of
and so exactly fulfilled it's purpose. We
had supplied for years the Spanish West
Indies with flour, bf the duty on this prod
uct was prohibitory. To make the situation
more unbearable the Canadians were IA
vored with the minimum tariff and i'm an
incredible short space of time assumed the
entire flour trade with Cuba which had
long Beeh enjoyed by our own millers.
Having reasoned in vain with the Spanish
Minister at Washington and through Min
lister Taylor with the Spanish foreign Of
fees, Secretary Gresham. in casting about
for remedy, hit upon the act OF Aug 80.
1890 This act, while primarily intended to
provide for the inspection OF meats for ex-
port and prevent the Importation OF HARM
full articles of food also included I'm its
fifth section a grant of power to the Presi-
dent, probably unequsled in extent by any
legislation i'm the history OF Congress. Pain
ly stated, IT authorized a. actual embargo
to be declared at the discretion of the
President. The Secretary OF State has re-
Trained from the assertion of the power OF
retaliation conferred by this law as long
as there was reasonable expectation that
the Spanish government would yield TO or
dinary methods OF diplomacy He was in
duced to do so from consideration OF the
great difficulties that government was hav-
ing in meeting the demands OF .he Cuban
sugar planters and merchants. who are
represented by our consular agents in, Cuba
to be in most deplorable financial straits
and also because of the difficulties that IL
has experienced i'm reorganizing the Cabinet
as the result OF the latest upheaval But
orr commerce is being menaced in a new
quarter, namely in Germany. where the gov
ernment has begun the imposition OF a
system or most calling restrictions upon
American imports that can scarcsiy be
longer tolerated and IL is felt to be neces-
sary to begin the assertion If the reserve
power Of retaliation lodged i'm the Presi-
dent and OF course this necessItates the
beginning with Spain. the first offender.