New-York tribune., 1901-08-01
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.
VIEWS OF L. v DE ABAD ON THE ECO
NOMIC RELATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES WITH THE ISLAND.

l. v de Abad, commissioner for the Economic
Associations OF Cuba, who is staying at the Hotel
San Reno, spoke yesterday concerning the Cuban
market and commercial reciprocity. He said:
L believe that it is necessary TO modify in a more
United States and Cuba, for political well as
quence of the war Win Spain she is SO by right
American protectorate; tomorrow she may be
ing the Cuban revolution, have bound themselves
to keep order in the island. The welfare Of the
policy, and a cheaper one. to give Cuba the means
and soldiers put down anarchy. The principal
cause OF revolution in Cuba has ever been OF an
spain has found herself powerless 10 find remedy
Furthermore, it is convenent to maintain there
one n Innuence OF the L4{eG st4tes 10 DO tl5 i n0
OF large economic interests shared by both Amerl-
States may exercise in Cuba through the language
Is, for the moment Of no account, owing to the
before they speak English. Religion is a factor
are permissible and the government does not take
advantage of them for political schemes Power
alone is sufficient 10 conquer and rule but at very
dear price and is not enough 70 INFLUENCE people
capital and American brains in the business OF the
Now then the present customs tariff is not suit
able achieve this result Here the people con-
tnus to treat cuba & as though she We're not com GoRp
take business in Cuba with the same feeling as
this is because the products Of the island DO not
Give here ST.clal or permanent advantage
If Cuban admitted here free Of duty
with a light almost nominal, duty, some Amerl-
would go there and produce sugar, while
others would boom the great refining industry al
ready existing there Thus the island would form a
part Of the economic system OF the United states.
Once this country had got hold of the Cuban
sugar and tobacco, its situation in the worlds
markets would be much important than IL is
to-day. Sugar IS article Of he first necessity,
which the island produce with American capt.
tai and methods at such . low price that 1t would
revolutionze the markets. Tobacco is a special
product a natural monopoly which cuba enjoys, in
spite of the bad Spanish administrations Of the
island and in spite of the high duties levied on 1t by
nation
There is still another consdera ton which IS
easily overlooked in this country, viz. the great
capacity for consumption that cuba has. Stats
tics show that there is not another market in
America that imports more goods per capita than
Cuba. She has TO import almost everything that
she consumes. because her production is limited to
tropical country inhabited by peODle accustomed
make fabrics machinery the numte terless arti-
cles necessary modern civilization. There is no
dodbt that. with q reciprocity treaty. her imports
from this country would reach . per cent or more
The fact that undeC the present customs tarln
Germans, English. t@gians. etc, monopolize the
business, which sinCf 1898 has increased 10 two and
three times as much il used 10 be ought TO open
the eyes Of the American people ard impress upon
them the necessity Of change OF system. one
buys with the proceeds Of what he sells: therefore
Cuba, in order to buy more from the United states
must be in condition 70 sell more sugar and To-
bacco and more of its natural products