Evening star., 1901-09-23
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA
LOWER RATES re BE GIVEN SUGAR
AND TOBACCO.
Cereals and Machinery to Be Favored
In the Island's Tariff Schedule
Gen. Woods departure.

General Wood, military governor of Cuba,
started back for Havana last night by way
of Tampa. Before leaving he said that he
hoped to be able to complete arrangements
by which the government of the island
may be formally transferred to the Cubans
by the 1st of May. He said also that there
will be no change in the policy of the ad-
ministration toward the Cubans, and that
President Roosevelt will continue the pol
icy inaugurated by his predecessor
Governor General Wood expects to return
to Washington in November and to bring
with him a deputation from the Cuban con-
stitutional convention authorized to nego-
tiate a reciprocity agreement by which the
principal products Of Cuba may enter the
United States at reduced rate, and that
many articles produced and manufactured
in the United States may be sent to Cuba
without paying the duty required OF other
countries. Secretary Root some time ago
directed the preliminary arrangements to
be made for formulating such an agree
ment and this has been done. Assurances
were given by President Mckinley, When
the delegation from the Cuban convention
visited Washington, that every effort
would be made to bring about closer COM
mercial relations between Cuba and the
United States, which We're to take form in
a reciprocity agreement. 1t is found that
States, the most important of which are
cereals and machinery, will be included in
the agreement to receive reduced rates
upon entering Cuba. Sugar and tobacco
will be the principal items of Cuban pro-
duction to be considered in the reciprocity
agreement.
General Wood has been urging early ac-
rlon i orae. IT,. & the r-ess.. ESQ.,. S.vp or Cupa
may be benefited He believes that it
will tend to a continuance oe .t1 ..:1 goo3 re-
lations between the United States and Cuba
and will be Of great benefit to the island.
His return in November Is with the object
of having the reciprocity agreement sent
to Congress as soon as it assemblies in
December. His determination to take
speedy action in this matter was made af
ter several conferences with President
Roosevelt.
In order to insure the protection Of Gu
ban coffee planters against the importation
Of Brazilian coffee through the United
States and Porto Rico an order will be pro-
mulgated by the War Department providing
a duty on coffee going into Cuba sufficient
to prevent such importations
Senior Quesada, the special commissioner
from Cuba, accompanied by Senor Tamayo,
the secretary of state of Cuba under the
insular government. ard by DR.. Miranda,
called upon Secretary Hay Saturday in the
interests of reciprocity. They represented
that the present conditions in Cuba are
iEtolerable, and that unless the United
States is prepared to promptly make some
concessions In the reduction of duties on
the Cuban staples the financial ruin of the
island Is inevitable. Realizing the delay
that would follow an attempt to frame and
ratify a reciprocity treaty to carry out
their designs, the Cuban delegates hoped to
wishes through the medium of modus
ytvendi, which shall remain in force until
Congress has had opportunity to act upon
a more formal convention.