Evening star., 1901-11-25
CONCESSIONS TO CUBA
EFFECTn OFa THE DELEGATION.
vTsIT ON CONGRESS.


The visit of tie Cuban commercial dele
cation tosFWashington in behalf Of tariff
concessions on Cuban products Is expected
to attract considerable attention In con-
gressionalv circles. The republican leaders
in the House, and Senate will be brought
face to face, ft5is said, with the necessity
Of action either affirmative or negative in
the premises
The first question to be decided is wheth-
er the American protective tariff is to be
abated in favor of Cuban agricultural prod
ucts; the next question, whether that abate-
ment shall be made at once by congress
sional legislation, or deferred for ar
rangement by treaty when the Cuban re-
public is established and has formed Its
government.
Roosevelt will recommend In his message
the most liberal treatment OF Cuba con-
SiStent with our own economic Welfare. "
is considered probable that Congress VIII
be guided largely by his recommendation.
1t is certain that If he should suggest
waiting until the new government Is FORM
ed before granting possible concessions.
the high protectioniSts would gladly seize
1t as an excuse to postpone action.
Cubans Want Immediate Action.
The Cubans who called upon the Presi-
dent this morning were particular to en-
phasize the necessity Of immediate action
upon their petition. They foresaw great
commercial disaster If this government
waited for the establishment OF the Cuban
republic. They wanted the President
either to act, by virtue of the supposed
war power, or ask Congress for authority.
Opinion is divided among senators and
representatives as to the necessity and
advisabilfty of waiting for commercial ar
rangement by treaty negotiations, which,
of course, could only be when a stable gov
ernment Is formed. There Is practically
no controversion, however, of the sugges-
tion that Congress should confer authority
rather than concessions be proposed through
the war power.
Some of the most pronounced protection
lists In the Senate are in favor Of granting
some slight concessions to Cuba, not en-
tirely from philanthropic motives. but as
an alternative to a growing sentiment in
favor of annexation which would, in their
opinion, ensue from prolonging unfortu-
nate commercial conditions In the island.
Annexation would mean absolute free trade
utterly Objectionable to the protected in
terests of this country.
Following this to its logical conclusion
would place these gentlemen in the ranks
of those who would urge immediate con-
cessions by congressional action. 1t is by
no means certain, however, that such a
course will be urged by the concessionists
annexationists for the time, it might
answer.
Purely a Business Question.
The entire question is purely business
one, in the opinion of the Senate republi-
can leaders, and will be so treated, they
say. 1t is naturally expected the democrats.
taking the free trade end of it, will play
on the one, string of the oppressed Cubans
and the shattered industries Of the island.
Some of metropolitan leaders realize what
a sentiment could be worked up in the
United States by such a course, and see
even possibilities of danger arising there
from in the next congressional campaign.
All these features of the situation will be
taken into>accouht and will result in some
very serious conferences among the repub-
lican leaderS II