Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06
CUBA'S TRADE RELATIONS
SEVERAL CONFERENCES RECENTLY
HELD ON THE SUBJECT.
Reciprocity to Be Finally Established
why There Will Be Fur
Their Delay.

The trade regulations between Cuba and
the United States have been the subject
Of several conferences hctween the officials
OF the War Department in charge of nsu-
lar affairs and members of Congress who
have recently visited Cuba. That reel
procity in the form of differential duties in
favor of goods passing between the two
countries will finally be established there
is little doubt expressed. The Impotence
shown on the subject, however among
American exporters and at Havana leads
to the conclusion that the embarrassments
OF the administration in the matter are
not clearly understood. The idea seems to
have obtained footing In some quarters
that the executive government of the United
States has the authority to establish
reciprocity. This is obviously not the case,
unless Cuba is to be considered already a
power to fix the rates Of duty upon prod
ucts entering the states, and the executive
has no such authority in this respect as
he has in respect to the rates upon goods
entering Cuba under the military rule of
this government.
Must Await Congregational Action.
The admission Of Cuban sugar and to-
bacco, therefore, on lover terms than the
similar products of otner countries cannot
be looked for until action is taken by
Congress at it's regular session next win
ter. There is a tariff commission now sit
ting at Havana to revise the rates on i'm
ports into Cuba, but tICy have nothing to
do with the United States tariff, and they
are not expected to deal directly with any
aspect of reciprocity between the island
and the old Union. They are proceeding
with a revision of the military tariff in the
island, because a long delay 10 expected
under the most favorable circumstances
hefora the subject ba dealt with by n
responsible Cuban government. 1t will be
sometime, from present indications, before
Governor General Wood will be in po-
sition to advise the President of the ac-
ceptance by the Cuban constitutional con-
vention of the conditions of the Plat
amendment to the army BILL
The Presidents Responsibility.
Upon President Mckinley rests the re-
sponsibilty of determining whether the re-
quirements Of the Platt amendment have
been met Until he is satisfied of this
fact he will not feel justified in authoriz-
Ing the further steps necessary to create
government in Cuba. The President
does not believe that he ought In any case
to withdraw American authority from the
island upon the mere adoption of a con-
stitution and the acceptance of the Ameri-
can conditions. Withdrawal on these
terms would create an interregnum in
which there would be non-reSponsible eX-
ecutive authority in Cuba. It will be nee
essary, therefore. for the President to
await the further steps I'm the process
of holding elections. completing the Off
cial count, certifying the results of the
elections and accomplishing the actual in
auguration of the new government before
there will be even prima facie reasons for
Withdrawing from the island.
"A Still Further Delay.
1t is felt at the War Department that a
still further delay would Inevitably be re-
quired to establish the fact that the new
government is practically workable as well
as theoretically established. 1t would
hardly be prudent, in the opinion of our
officials, for Gen. Wood to embark his
garrisons on the day that the chief execu-
| tive of Cuba was inaugurated and the
| legislative body met before they had prov
| ed their capacity for a. few weeks at least
to conduct an orderly government. In
| the ordinary course of official routine time
| would be required for the gradual abandon
ment of American authority over various
! branches of the public service, even if
every cog Of the new government machine
worked to perfection and all reasonable
haste were made by the United States in
surrendering their authority.