Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-08
ton without a recognition Of power on
both sides.
Negotiation of Commercial Treaties.

ton without q recognition Of power on
both sides.
Negotiation of Commercial Treaties.
1t is chiefly. however with reference to
the negotiation of commercial treaties that
the Cubans are concerned and the con-
vention is now aware that the Mckinley
administration fully recognizes the indie
pendence Of the prospective Cuban govern
ment in this regard. In taking final action
on the Platt amendment the members
know that the American policy is to have
set up a government which can negotiate.
ratify and put into effect treaty arrange
ments.
The constitution which has been dra
and adopted by the Havana convention has
its treaty making powers almost identical
with the articles in the Constitution of the
United States. The President is to have
power to negotiate treaties by and with
the consent of the Senate. and the ap-
prevail of two-thirds of the senators is
necessary. For making a commercial
treaty effective the cooperation of the
Cuban house of representatives will be
necessary just as II is necessary in the
United States. But in order to do all
these things it is necessary first to have a
Cuban government with a president and a
congress. When that is had there need
be no delay in seeking tariff concessions
from the United States for Cuban products
and In granting concessions to American
products imported into Cuba. The process
would not be dissimilar to that which was
followed when the reciprocity treaty with
Spain was made effective ten years ago.
AS to favored nations commercial privi-
leges to other countries. Cuba. in
dependent commonwealth, would adjust
those matters just as other countries adj
just them. However, the new common
wealth would have this advantage. that
its first treaty would be with the United
States and the relations with other coun-
tries could be nodded to this condition
There is nothing in the Plat amendment
which interferes with the commercial free
dom of the island. This is not very we'll
understood by some people in the United
States. They still count having the
Cuban tariff duties shaped so as to give
the preference and the advantage to the
products of the United States without con-
ceding anything in return. But when there
is Cuban government which can put I'm
definite form the plea for concessions on
sugar and tobacco, 1t will be shown that
the United States cannot in fairness
fuse these concessions while seeking to
monopolize the Cuban market under tariff
schedules framed by the military authority
which 1t exercised pending the establish
ment of Cuban government.
Islands Economic Future.
All the reports from Cuba show how
deeply the economic future of the island
is at last appreciated by it's own people.
The talk of Mr.. Capote and other members
of the convention about the need Of estab-
fishing a sure basis of reciprocity with the
the talk of some Of them a few months
ago. Then they were filled only with the
sentiment of Cuban independence and said
that in realizing the aspirations of the
Cuban people they could not be controlled
by questions of trade or commerce. But
now they see that sentiment and aspira-
tions are best realized by recognizing the
part which sugar and tobac will have In
determining the future of the island. Their
present attitude is long stride forward.
Inc economic movement, as 1t is called,
mas taken the strongest hold in Matanzas.
In that city and province the union demo-
cratic party Is making a definite campaign
for the recognition of the real relations of
Cuba towards the United States. Mr.. Gil
berga, the one member of the constitutional
convention who opposed all the radical ten
denotes, was elected from MatanZas He is
now in the forefront of the economic cam
paign.
Matanzas has great stake i'm securing
the establishment of stable government
which will be able to obtain commercial
concessions from the United States. The
center OF the greatest sugar region of the
island, with fine harbor and many nat
ural advantages, the city has almost gone
to decay Railroad discrimination in favor
of Havana has had something to do with
its decadence, but the chief cause has been
the PROSTATE condition of the sugar in
dustry. When sugar comes up again the
rotting wharves at MatanZas will be re-
built and it's harbor will again be filled
with vessels The only way to bring the
sugar industry up to its old-time proSperi-
ty is by making sure of a market in the
United States When that is done Matan-
Zas will regain much of it's former prestige
and it's commercial advantages will give 1t
a fresh life. Santiago and Cienfuegos have
been outstripping it, but when the sugar
market is restored MatanZas is likely to
resume it's former position as second only
to Havana in the extent of its commerce
Its citizens are, therefore, showing good
sense in recognizing that the economic pol
icy means more for them than purely
sentimental policy. Mr.. Betancourt. who
was a member Of the commission which
came to Washington, is the civil governor
of MatanZas and probably is in full SYM
pathy with the economic movement.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.