New-York tribune., 1901-11-21
THE CUBAN TARIFF.
FROM THE ISLAND Be
LIEvED TO BE ANNEXATIONISTs.
THEIR MISSION TO WASHINGTON NO
LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THEIR MISSION TO WASHINGTON NOT
LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
Washington, Nov. 20--In well informed cir
cles in Washington the suspicion is growing
that the delegation Of Cuban business men on
the way to this city for the ostensible purpose
/ OF pleading for immediate tariff concessions are
iE reality Cuban annexationists in disguise.
Whether their motive be what is avowed or
what is believed to be concealed it is safe to
assert that they viii find the object as
hard TO attain in haste the other This does
not mean that there is disposition In RESPONSE
BILE circles here to withhold from Cuba the aid
which tariff concessions undoubtedly would af-
ford, but the very willingness to render help
in this form is regarded as a indication
that there is very little If any annexation SEN
timent among the men who control Congress-
It is regarded, however, extremely doubtful
that the delegation can assist in any way in
the movement to give Cuba the benefit Of spe-
cially favored trade relations with the United
States. That is matter that has been
fully looked into by the executive and legisla-
tive departments OF the government and. while
the full details have not yet been decided upon
1t is known that the general policy has been
well matured by the leaders Of Congress
well as by the President and the Secretary of
War
The extent Of the concessions to be made Is
now of less pressing Importance than are the
manner and time of granting them Not much
reliance be placed at this juncture on the
contention that reciprocal commercial relations
can be established with Cuba before the island
is turned over to the Cuban Government now
forming Until the work OF organizing the Gu
ban Government is completed no treaty agree
ment can be arranged between Cuba and the
United States, for the good and sufficient reason
that in the present state Of affairs there is
authority in Cuba with which this government
can deal. At last accounts 1t seemed not i'm
probable that the Cuban Government would be
fully organized and equipped by next May-cer-
talnly not later than June-at which time the
United States troops will be withdrawn from
the island by the President. as directed by the
Platt amendment. Then. and not until then.
can Congress pass special tariff law for ap-
| plication TO Cuba Il that method finally is
adopted as the readiest and wisest or the reci-
procity provisions of the Dingley law can be
| extended to the island by the Senate in the
| form Of a treaty. AS this provision allows
concession of only 20 per cent on any article 1t
| is considered not unlikely that the sugar and
| tobacco interests of the island would be dis
satisfied with it. and clamor for special legisa-
| tion. granting a larger preferential their
products.
| Whether Congress would be willing to grant
| more than the % per cent reduction provided
| for by existing law cannot now be foretold
The doubt, however, appears to be against
Cuba, already the beet sugar interests of the
| United States are starting active propaganda
against any concession to Cuban sugar 1t Is
noteworthy that the American Sugar Refining
Company. commonly known,as the Sugar Trust
is taking no part in the fight against liberal
concessions to Cuba. On the contrary. it is un-
derstood that the trust would not object to alb
solute free trade with the island. 1t Is true
that the sugar planters of Louisiana and Texas
are outspoken and even explanatory in their
opposition to granting concessions to Cuban