The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-01
CUBAN TOBACCO EMBARGO.
TRADE HERE BELIETES SAGASTA
WILL REVOKE TIE EDICT!

Seine or Them Profess to Ne Inrornsd That
Experis or Leaf TO tho United States VIII ne
Resumed AFTER San. l-CiEar Manufacturer
In Havana Falling wires 10 Prevent This.
The belief prevails in the tobacco trade here
that the Spanish Government will soon rcscind
the cdict prohibiting tho expectation OF tobacco
from Cuba. Among most Of tho tobacco I'M
porters the belief seems to DO basod on little
that Is more substantial than rumor. There arc
a few Spanish and Cuban importers who speak
of private information from official circles. The
date most frequently mentioned for the roscind-
ing OF the edict is Jan. 1 next
Those who profess TO know something about
tho intention of the Spanish Government in this
matter say that the Government has concluded
to take the step for two reasons. The most i'm
portant of these reasons 10 the reputed desire.
on tho part Of Primo Minister Sagasta and his
colleagues in the Spanish Cabinet. TO promote o
friendly feeling toward Spain In the United
States. Certain Spanish tobacco merchants In
this city pointed out to Sagasta not long
ago, SO 1t is said, that the principal
grievance tho United States had against Spain
in reference to tho war In Cuba is thet tho pro-
longation Of the war disturbs our business rela-
lions with the island. Attention was called to
the fact that the United States were the heaviest
buyer of Havana tobacco and that tho ediot
deprived this Government of q largo source Of
revenue which 1t would otherwise have from
import duties.
According to these Spanish importers, Sagasta
lent a willing ear to all these and
suggestions. He considered the question for
some time, and less than q month ago, SO the
report has 1t, decided that tho cdict should be
rescinded before, or soon after, the converting
OF our Congress-.
The only other reason given for the belief that
the cdict will be rescinded Is that tho tobacco
commission merchants in Havana and the
Spanish planters of tobacco, from both of whom
prosecute the war, have demanded that it be
rcscinded. This demand has been made, IL is
said. because the merchants and planters have
felt keenly the loss of the United States as q
buyer in the Havana market.
The cdict in question was proclaimed on May
10, 1896. According TO its terms, ten days after
its Proclamation no tobacco, grown In the Vuelta
be exported from the island The edict Was to- to
serve two objects. The tobacco grown in the
districts mentioned is the finest grown in Cuba.
The large cigar manufacturers In Havana de-
sired to have this tobacco exclusively for their
own use. They believed that the prog ess Of the
revolution would shorten the tobacco crop, and
they wanted to control all the finer qualities.
To that end the ma nufacturers agreed to make
good 10 inc spanish Government any loss Of
The other object which tho proclamation Of
the edict was intended to serve was to deprive
the insurgents of a source of revenue that was
certain. so long as tobacco was exported from
which many Cubans are employed. would be
kept busy. SO long as these factories were run
ming on full time. 80 long the Cuban employees
would have money to contribute to the patriot
cause.
Tho principal effect of resembling the edict, SO
far as smokers are concerned. would be the i'm
provemcnt in the quality of tho tobacco in the
cigars mennfact uted in this country. Owing to
the scarcity and dearness of hiRh-Rradc Havana
tobacco here, and the inadvisability of raising
the price of cigars, cigarInakcrs here, IL was
said yesterday, have been obliged to put inferior
HAVANA. Nov. '27.~The Union do Fabri.
cantcs. or Cigar Trust here is making strcnu-
GUS efforts to prevent the raising of the embargo
upon the export of tobacco leaf to the United
States. Senior Antonio Rivero. the representa-.
tive OF the union in Madrid. has received In.
structions TO do his best near the Minister of the
Colonies and Senior Sagasta TO delay that meas.
ure. in case the Government intends to abolish
Weyler's order: Senior Rivero. who is at the
vana newspaper La Luch0. IL very influential
at the Court. and according to his cable do.
spatches to the trust, he has succeeded until now
in his efforts.
Senior Rivcro has advised the Government to
consult the tobacco men in Cuba before taking
any step In tho matter, and il his advice Is fol-
lowed, us he thinks. the resolution will really be
delayed several months and imperilled besides,
views of the trust.
Senior Prudencio Rabell. Marquis of Rabell,
President Of the Reformist party, and one OF
the principal cigar manufacturers in Havana,
Is working here in the Same interest. Sehor
Rahclls influence Is very great now with Cap
tnin-Gcneral Blanco.
The Havana manufacturers are short of good
Havana tobacco. The devastation Of the war In
Pinar del Rio province has destroyed the best
crops of the Vuelta Abaio since 1895, and 1t Is
very doubtful If any Improvement is made this
year. A great deal of Sumatra and Mexico is
introduced in this city by smuggling to replace
the lack of good Havana. II the expectation is
authorized again the little Havana In the mar
ket will surely go to the United States.