Evening star., 1901-04-29
OUR TRADE.s WITH CUBA
Nv
EXPLANATION OE RECENTLY PUB
LIsHED FIGURES.
Commerce Said to(Be Not Falling on
~ Was Indicated, but Act
ually increasing.

In recent statement given to the press
by the division Of fnsular affairs Of the war
Department considerable loss was indi-
Gated In the trade of Cuba with the United
States for the first eight months OF 19O0 as
compared with the same period OF 1888. IL
Is now explained by the division of insular
affairs that In the statement above referred
to the value Of gold and silver coin and
bullion was included in the total value OF
commerce between Cuba and the United
States. Eliminating the coin shipments 1t
is ascertained that Instead Of there being a
decrease IN the value Of imports into Cuba
from the United States there is an increase
OF S1,222.205 for the first eight months of
1900 over the same period Of 1899.
A comparison with the importation OF
merchandise into Cuba from the united
Kingdom for the same period shows an in-
crease in favor of 1900 Of 5S.5 per cent, and
from Germany of 1873 per cent. These per
centums look formidable, but it is said at
the War Department the amounts OF IN
crease are not so very large when they are
considered in relation with the totals of
importation or in relation with the United
States figures. These English and German
figures are expected to continue to rise
until the united kingdom and Germany Sc
cure their proportionate shares Of trade IN
Cuba. that is. in proportion to their shares
in other tropical countries. AS the tarln
regulations operate upon all countries alike
exports from Germany, France, Spain, the
united kingdom to Cuba will depend on
business methods.
Regard for buyers Wishes.
1t Is stated that while there may have
been an impulse on sentiment at the close
Of the war on the part of Cuban importers
to buy from the country that had just Sc
cured to them their liberty, there is no evt-
dence of it to be found in the subsequent
statistics.
There are isolated cases Of Cuban mer-
chants who tried to substitute American
products for Spanish on sentimental
grounds, but that their efforts proved very
successful cannot be shown. One extensive
dealer In footwear tried to introduce Amer
team shoes, but his customers preferred the
Spanish last, even though it was coupled
with inferior leather and poorer Workma n
ship, and during the last six months of
1900 Spain furnished SG20,098 worth of
shoes and the United States S16o.76s. IN
less the form of the American shoes can
be made to suit the Cuban taste and Gus
tom, the American shoe manufacturer, 1t
is stated. cannot expect to dominate the
Cuban shoe trade.
The same is true of cotton goods. 1t
costs no more to bring a cargo from Bar
celona than from New York, and the Gu
bans, like the Mexicans. have come to pre-
fer the goods of European make. and the
European manufacturers, through long ap-
plication, have come to know what these
people prefer and make goods expressly for
that market
The United States sells a great deal OF
raw cotton, but comparatively very little
Of the manufactured During the aforesaid
eight months of 1860 the United States SOLD
$147 sis, $3.50 worth of raw cotton and only
$13, ,263, 1851 worth Of manufactured. OF the
latter amount, Cuba secured nearly 9 DEL
cent or three or four times AS much as
Mexico, Brazil OF the other South American
countries.
Exports From Cuba.
The apparent loss In tho expectations
from Cuba to the United States during the
1900 period as compared with the 1890 pc.
riod as shown by the figures in the press
statement hereinbefore mentioned is &C
counted for by the division as follows: The
explanation will be found in the item OF
tobacco. especially In that of cigars The
greater part OF the tobacco shipped to Eu
rope goes by way of New York and DUR
Ing the first nine months of 1899 when
heavy shipments were made. the reports
to the division OF insular affairs did hot
disclose the final destination of this COM
modify. 1t 1t not possible now to deter.
credited to the United States and to the
rest Of the world Europe almost exclusive.
fy. but Judging the expectations OF 1899 by
those Of 1900. it is reasonable to assume
that at least $1,000 900 worth of tobacco
chiefly cigars. destined for Europe more
particularly Germany and the united king.
dom, were credited to the United States
The statement issued by the division ir
conclusion says it therefore appears thai
instead of there being loss in the export
trade Of Cuba to the United States the
arnt. i1 mt pltr haivo