New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-17
tpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1pUxE.I ]

GBy TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Nov. 16-The proposed reciproci-
ty treaty with Cuba. which General Bliss has
gone to Havana Minister PlenipOtentiary 70
negotiate, provides that in exchange for a gen.
erous horizontal reduction of the Dingley Tariff
rates which the United States will make on all
Cuban products imported into this country Cuba
is TO maintain her existing tariff United
States products and increase the rates on most
of her imports from other countries, according
to schedules which Incorporated in the
treaty. In other words. Cuba is to possess a
direrential tariff. with maximum and minimum
rates. similar to that provided for the island by
Spain. and the United States is to enjoy the
preferential rates Spain did, but in return
is to compensate Cuba by important tariff con-
cessions. which Spain did not. The differential,
moreover. is nothing like so great Spain pre-
scribed and it's design is not TO tax Cuban re-
sources for supporting distant throne. but TO
promote the prosperity and development of the
island.
The object and without doubt the result of
this carefully devised scheme. will be that Gu
ba's present revenue shall be undiminished. that
Cuban products shall secure substantial as we'll
as essential advantages over those OF compet-
ing countries in American markets. and by en-
couraging imports from the United States shall
Of the two countries. mutually dependent
upon each other for staple products Ultimate
ly the treaty. in the confident estimation
of President Roosevelt and his advisers. will
provide a market in the United States for every
surplus product OF Cuba. and in turn will cause
Cuba TO buy from the United States everything
she cannot probably produce herself
WHY GENERAL BLISS WAS SELECTED.
The details Of this proposition have been so
carefully guarded as TO prevent intelligent pub
lie discussion until to-day. when they were OBJ
tained by The Tribune correspondent. General
Tasker H. Bliss is 70 explain to the Cuban Gov
ernment. and 20 impress upon President Palma
and the leaders of the Insular Congress. the
great advantages that must accrue to Cuba
through the arrangement.
General Bliss was selected for this mission be
cause he was in charge OF the collection of Gus
toms in Cuba under the military government.
and is more familiar with the existing Cuban
tariff. which he helped to frame. than Minister
Squiers. and is even more thoroughly familiar
with its revenue producing possibilities than are
the Cubans themselves. He knows just what
differentials necessary to give the United
States control Of the Cuban markets. and he
knows just how these differentials can be ad-
justed so as not to reduce the revenues Of the
Cuban Government. and to impose the
minimum hardship on the Cuban consumer.
One of the strongest arguments in favor of this
arrangement is that the differentiaIs are much
less than those which Spain imposed the
commerce of the rest of the world with Cuba.
while she gave the island nothing in return.
General Bliss is also authorized TO suggest
that the concession made to Cuba may be
greater than the 20 per cent reduction which
was considered last winter. In view of the
growing sentiment for reduction in some of the
riff aI,,Iae Of Xt,a
recent elections. and the strong public sentiment
IN favor of the generous treatment of Cuba
which was made manifest throughout the coun-
try during the political campaign. President
Roosevelt is disposed to believe that a reduction
OF % per cent in favor of imports from Cuba
might be made in the proposed treaty without
jeopardizing it's approval by Congress. This
however. is one OF the details which has not
yet been definitely decided on. The spirit with
which the Cuban Government responds to the
propositions made by General Bliss will have
considerable weight in securing the greater con-
cession from the United States
WORKING FOR CUBA'S WELFARE.
General Bliss is also to impress on the Cubans
the fact that the United States in proposing this
tariff arrangement is working for Cuba's well
fare: that while Cuba is not to surrender a
cent Of her revenues. the United States is to
give up annually a large sum in customs reve-
nues, and that the purpose constantly had in
view is to bring the United States and Cuba
into closer commercial relations and assure the
prosperity of the new nation which this gov
ernment has called into being. and for the we'll
being OF which the American people feel deep
responsibility. In the same connection he is to
discourage any tendency the part of the
Cuban Government to undertake the negOtia-
tion of commercial treaties with other nations at
this time. insisting that nothing OF that kind
shall be done until the arrangement with the
United States has been completed and put into
operation He may go far to give
surances that If this treaty is carried through
promptly some of the rights which this govern
ment acquired under the Platt amendment may
not be exerted in a manner to affect the patri-
otic sensibilities of any considerable element OF
the Cuban population.
The controlling motive that had 20 be kept
in mind constantly in framing the proposed
treaty was that. under circumstances. could
changes be made in the Cuban tariff that would
reduce the customs revenues of that govern
ment It was indispensable that the net result
Of any notifications that might be proposed
would be TO give Cuba at least as much revenue
as the existing tariff yields and manifestly this
could only be done in most cases by letting the
existing tariff stand goods imported from
the United States. while imposing higher rates
on goods imported from other countries
This is the system carried out In the pending
PoLANDi PoI.ANDi POLAND! POLAND
Is crra cura