New-York tribune., 1901-10-16
RECIPROCITY WITH CURA
CONCESSIONS NOT To BE AT THE Ev.
PENSE OF THIS CoUNTRYs SUGAR
AND TOBACCO INTERESTS
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsuxE.1

tBf TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
Washington, Oct. 15.-Accordins to the Ieaa.-,
OF public opinion in Washington. the presence
here of Senor De Abad. OF Havana. as +ha
avoved representative of certain Industrial IN,
terests of Cuba. has given rise to too posi,,,,
and sweeping predictions as to the ebarao..-
and extent of the reciprocal commereiaI raIa
tions to be established with that island h, tL-
next Congress 1t is pointed out that 10 &c.
with, there is no certainty that any kind "a
reciprocity treaty can be secured at the forth
coming session of Congress, for two reason.
The first is the possibility that before tho sr..
session Of the With Congress adiourns sor,s
time next spring or summer. the Cuban c1ovarr
ment may not be fully organized and eoufnnad
In this case reciprocity could not he estab
Hshed In the near future. because there woul5
De no Independent and sovereign governrert
in Cuba with which Congress could deal Tb
second and more potent reason is that tbera an,
pears to be considerably more opposition among
the leaders in Congress to wholesale rAcinroot.
with Cuba than is generally known wbatavar
IS done in the matter will not be done bastil,
Cuba's two great interests. sugar and tobacco
Will not be permitted to break down those in
terests in this country. 1t is this considera-
tion that is giving the gravest concern to Cuba's
best friends in Congress
AT the same time. II is not doubted that 10
there is Cuban Government with which n,
treat before the first session of the new Con-
gress adjourns. some degree of reciprocitv viii
be granted to Cuba. This statement is based
on promise known to have been made by the
late President Mckinley Secretary Root. sena-
tor Platt. of Connecticut. and others authorized
to speak for the administration on the occasion
Of the visit to Washington last Nav Of daIo-
cation representing the Cuban Constitutional
Convention. At that time the convention ar
Havana was in rather discouraging snarl over
the Incorporation into the organic law Of Cuba
OF the Platt amendment defining the political
relations between Cuba and the United States
1t was understood perfectly we'll in Washington
that the cause of the threatened deadlock In
the convention was the desire of the Cuban
constitution makers TO exact from the respons'-
BILE authorities here some promise of CONNER
cial concessions Without deciding on details
the President. Secretary Root Senator Platt and
others who conferred with the visiting dele
gates here agreed in a general way to make
with the consent of Congress. certain conces-
sions to Cuba at the proper time. Out Of this
tentative agreement has grown the confident
talk. both in Cuba and this country Of solemn
pledge to give Cuba reciprocity
In denial Of the giving Of such a pledge as
this, attention is called to the fact that there
is a wide and important difference between
Concessions and reciprocity" In speaking OF
the subject. Senator Platt of Connecticut the
leader in all Cuban legislation always uses the
word concessions" and never reciprocity" It
is explained that concessions" CONVEYS an en-
tirely different meaning from reciprocity" For
example. in this sense concession means the
giving of valuable considerations without neces-
sarily getting anything in return On the other
hand. reciprocity means simply concessions
by both sides for mutual trade benefits. 1t is
contended that there could be mutual bene-
fits in concessions on the part of this govern
ment to Cuban tobacco and sugar, because those
interests in this country would suffer greatly
from competition with the cheap labor and
superior climatic and soil conditions OF the ISL
and. Therefore II is understood that whatever
notable concessions are made TO Cuba Will be
with the view of building up other industries
of the island than those OF sugar and tobacco,
in order that by thus strengthening the general
productive energies OF Cuba the insular republic
will be better able 20 get its tobacco and sugar
into the markets of the world and compete
with the United States rather than be permitted
TO crush the tobacco and sugar industries or
this country through free access TO its ports.
To this extent only Will there probably De reel
pTOCity with Cuba