The herald., 1897-05-18
Paralyzed by Conditions
Prevailing
EXPORTERS AND IMPORTERS
UJgITN IN PETITION TO sECRE-
TARY SHERMAN
Hction Anxiously Desired Whereby
8, the Present Struggle May Be
=. Terminated
Associated Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, May 17.-Firms and in
uividuals in this country who are inter-
ested in trade with Cuba and who desire
peace in the island as soon as possible,
sent today to the secretary of state a
memorial setting forth how their busi-
ness interests are suffering. and giving
facts about the struggle in Cuba, in the
hope that measures may be devised to
terminate the war in the island.
The petition says, in part: The sub
scribers to this memorial. citizens of the
United States, doing business as bank
ers, merchants manufacturers, steam
ship owners and agents in the cities Of
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Savannah, Charleston, Jackson
vile, New Orleans and other places,
have been for many years engaged in the
export and import trade with the island
of Cuba, and finding that their several
interests are suffering severely from the
long continuance of the struggle now 60
ing on in the island of Cuba, desire to
present for your careful consideration
the following facts, in the hope that you
may find in them a sufficient justifica
ton Of this memorial.and be able to de-
wise measures whereby the termination
OF the struggle between the armed
forces on the iaand Of Cuba may be
hastened and the sufferings and losses
of your subscribers may be relieved and
commerce may be re-established be-
tween the United States and Cuba
k,,I. - A ,ovf4
merce with the island Of Cuba is readily
shown by citing the volume of our trade
with that island for the years 1893, 1894
and 1895, in each of which years the
value Of our imports from Cuba exceed
ed $75.000,000. Our exports to Cuba
ranged in value from 25,0O0, 900 to $780,
00O, 900 year during these years and had
been even greater in previous years dur
ing the reciprocity treaty of the United
States with Spain.
The struggle in the island Of Cuba has
continued for more than two years to
the serious arrangement of our COM
merce with the island. our imports from
Cuba shrinking in value to some $50, ,000.-
900 in 1896 and our exports to Cuba In
1896 amounting to only $7,000,000. so far
as ascertainable.
Many of your subscribers have large
interests in Cuba, either as holders of
property or of mortgages, or in the
shape of business credit advances. AS
your subscribers see these interests. al
ready seriously injured. now threat
ened with humiliation by the continu-
ance of state OF affairs under which
we can neither operate any business
iE the island of Cuba with safety nor
take the precautions possible in ordi-
nary times to proetcs our interests.
AT the headquarters of the Cuban
junta in this city it was denied that any
Cuban loan had been or was being ne
gotiated. All the money we received"
said Delegate Palma, ''is devoted to the
purchase Of bullets. We are not inter-
ested in any scheme for the purchase
of Cuba from SPAIN"
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
NEW YORK, May 1.-THE Herald's
special from Madrid says:
No doubt remains that the work Of pa
cification in the Philippine islands is at
standstill. The gravity Of the situation
there has been fully revealed by corre-
spondent in Manila who gives many in
cidents, with names and dates, to show
that the insurgent bands are still active.
He says: "There are more than 25, 900
Insurgents in arms between those in
Southern Cavite and those scattered
throughout the other provinces. They
are getting ready to start another irreg-
ular war, by which policy they expect to
be able to resist for very long time.
If 1t begins to rain before the rebellion
can be completely extinguished the war
will become chronic difficulty and ex-
pensive.
1.-THE government Is trying to raise
loan of $25,000,000 for the expenses of the
war in the Philippines. Madrid and Bar
celona bankers are willing to lend the
money upon the following conditions:
The issue must be made at S21s per cent,
the bonds to bear 6 per cent interest and
have the guarantee of the Spanish treas
ury besides that of the Philippine Gus
toms. AS the government has no au-
thorization from the Cortes to pledge
the Spanish revenues the operation had
been indefinitely postponed"