BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-12-09
General Wood Vigorously
Urges Cuban Reciprocity.
Will Labor For Concessions
on Tobacco and Sugar.

Before leaving Washington last week
General Wood gave to the New York
Herald an important statement OF the situa-
ton in Cuba and the relations of the United
States to the island.
"I have come to the United States," said
General Wood, Cat the invitation Of the
Secretary Of War, and to discuss with him
the details Of the propositions necessary for
the transfer of the government of the island
to the Cuban people, involving, as it does,
many important questions; alse for the
purpose Of attending to considerable per.
sonal business. Ny visit, however, will
necessarily be short, as it is important for
me to be in Cuba during the election period.
"Regarding the granting of tariff con.
cessions to Cuba by the United States for
which purpose commission Of Oubans ID
now at work in Washington.
shall do all can, personally and off.
cially, to aid in the securing Of certain
reasonable tariff concessions, especially on
sugar and tobacco. / believe such conces.
sions are absolutely essential for the well
heing Of the island, and that without them
there will be q lack Of development, invest
ment and business enterprise to such an ex-
tent as to render the maintenance Of business
confidence impossible.
"I do not believe that reasonable tariff
c.o9Enlc,sssssions on Cuban products will be in
Of the United States, and am of the opinion
that, a. soon as the situationlis fully underG.
TODD, this will be appreciated: Cuba pur.
chases now to the amount Of about $50, 900,
600 year, and if she has this purchasing
power under present conditions, she will,
with few years of comparative prosperity,
have trade of from $2O9, ,OOO, 900 to $500,
OO0, ,000-trade which will be worth our
having.
"Of the present trade with Cuba we
have only about . 28, ,OOO, 900; the rest goes
to foreign countries, . condition which, if
more favorable relations existed, would be
speedily reversed. For instance, Cuba i'm.
ports 5000, 900 worth of Spanish wines, of
. grade similar to our California wine;
q, 500, 900 of shoes; nearly 8 1000, 900 Of
cotton fabrics; over $4,000, 600 of rice. All
these articles are imported from foreign
countries when they should come from the
United States, and will come with better
relations.
"Unless there is condition of business
confidence in Cuba, the ability Of the new
government to maintain the present sanitary
educational and other systems will be pro.
blematical."
With the return of old unsanitary condi.
tions and breaking up of the present edu.
cationsl system, the condition Of Cuba will
be very similar to that existing previously.
0It will be some time before internal
and municipal taxation can be developed to
. sufficient extent to relieve the general
government OF the excessive cost of mainte
nance of schools, sanitation, public works
Of all classes, s., s..
'sThe day previous to my departure for
she United States / had completed an ex.
tended tour of inspection throughout the y.
island Of Cuba, which was for the purpose |
Of inspecting its general condition and
everything pertaining to municipal gov
ernment, public works, sanitation, as well |
20 the industrial and financial condition Of
The people.
ssThey, as as schole, are deeply inseres. |
ted in the endeavor now being made in |
Washington TO secure tariff concessions, |
and it is on the hope Of obtaining such con |
cessions that they are working to-day.
GAS to the general condition Of the people
here 10 little or no hunger and NO actual
anysohere in the island. Nature
3 able to supply most Of their needs, and
he midness Of the climate prevents hard.
hip which might otherwise result.
6Tnere q no feeling anywhere in the
sland which can be described as one Of
unrest. As rule the people are all ct
work and are anxious about the future,
wondering just sVhst will be done under the
lew government. This feeling t. q natural |
me, and one which l believe sOould be pre-. =