The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-13
DISCUSS CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE At
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Cuba WIN Not Agree TO the Treaty Sent to
Havana, as the 20 Per Gent. Reiuc.
lion on Sugar Is Not a Fair Equivalent
for Concessions Asked on Our Goods.

conference held at the War Depart ment
to-day in regard 10 the reciprocity ne
g'tiations with Cuba Gen. Tasker II. Bliss
Of tie army was ordered TO cuba TO make
thorough iuvcstiga' ion, with Ito object
Of ascertaining the effect upon Cuban
revenues end indust rails of the reciprocity
arrangement proposed bv the United States
and how in the hands g No Cuban author-
ties al Havana. Ger. .'-s was c Hector
Of tI-toms al Havana curing the Ameri-
can NJ ltary occupation and Is the author
Of the Cuban tariff schedules in force at
that time. Ii was on the basis Of these
schedules that the recipr ocity treaty pro-
posed hv tho United States TO Cuba was
prepared.
The War Departm ent conference was
participated in by Secretary Of State Hav.
Secretary of War Root and Gen. Bliss
l. was the outcome of conclusion reached
by the A lminis,raticn that the Cubo
Government is determined not TO agree 10
reciprocity arrangement that does no,
provide more liberal concessions on the
part If the United States than are con-
tanned in the tentative treaty sent t.
Havana
While no formal communication on the
subject has been received from the re-
public since the tentative treaty was sub
mittea. the State Depart ment has learned
that the CIbans will not in any circum-
stances sign an agreement identical with
that now in their possession. Having
carefully considered the matter, the A.
lnlniHration was forced 20 believe that no
progress whatever would be made toward
tui az reciprocity unless this G. bvernment
rCcelei from some Of tho con iitions which
II had proposed, and to-day's conference
was devoted particularly to discussing
what changes should he conceded without
injury To American interests or endaneerng
the chances Of the treaty before the senate
l. was apparent from the information
received by the State Department and
laid before the conference that the Cuban
authorltlcs have been strengt hened in their
opposition 10 the American Proposals by
th,lr belief that there l. likely 10 be a short
Ak" IN the European sugar crop, which
means, II course. that Cuban sugar will
find ready and profitable market in that
country. The Cubans. II Is said here, are
Of the opinion that preferential rates for
the admission Of their sugar into the United
: atcs will not he n.C, ssary. for the reason
that Europe wiii probably take he entire
export sugar crop Of the island at very
good rates
That, however, is not the reason given
by the Cuban Government for insistence
on greater benefits in the reciprocity treaty
submitted hv this Government II l.
maintained by the Havana authorities
that owing TO changed conditions in the
island, particularly the failure Of the sugar
( nj 70, pr,I,t~., a.,
expected the 20 per cent. reduction in the
American duty on Cuban sugar, which this
! Government is willing 10 provide. will not
! b" sufficient, and ~ any rate that Is not a
| fair equivalent for the CONFESSIONS on
| American goods which have been asked
| by the tLited States.
| Cuba maintains that the reduction in
| her revenues, which she holds must neccs-
| sarlv come from reducing the rates of
| duty on American u ar,IfaCtures import, q
| into the island. presents an advantag to
! thiN country which will not 10 offset by
! permitting Cuban sugar 10 enter the ports
! ~ the tinted states for 20 per cent loss
! duty than i charged on sugar from any
! other part - the world In effect, Cuba
/ not only wants . greater reduction in the
! American duty on sugar than the United
/ states has PROPOSED 10 give her. but also
/ d"-ireS that tho rates which this Govern
! m"nt has asked the republic 10 imposo on
/
! shall b" Increased.
Having come - the conclusion that the
| tubahs "oal' remain Il IN in refusing 10
| rcceie from hi, position he A .mini,tra-
non has been considering tho best method
! ~ meeting the Cuban object ions and il
! was decided az to-daY's confer nee that
| no better wav Of ascertaining the polic,,
| IA b" adopted nv the United States coult
| no devised than in sending Gen Bliss 10
| cuba TO make thorough investigation
a. a - ri 4l tf.,t a
| i've advantag os or disadvantages 10 the
| two countries concerned Of a modification
| 81 the tentative treaty now under con-
| slderatlOn AZ Havana.
Another important phase Of the subject
| which was considered by the confnr,es
| vas whether a treaty that would conform
| 20 the desires Of Cuba would meet with the
! approval Of the United States senate
| which must ra'ify all treaty arrangements
! WIN foreign countries before they can
become elective
II was brought out at the War Dopar,-
ment conference that number OF articles
| Or American manufacture, upon which
| this Government had asked Cuba TO con-
| cede preferential rates Of duty. would not
| bo protected in competition with similar
| articles made IN Europe if the rates which
! ia" United States Is anxious To obtain
were increased, even though the increas 80
would not make the Cuban customs tarr
upon them ~ high a. the tariff on the IA mo
goods Of European manufacture.
For example, in tho proposed reciprocity
treaty "A preferential rate II given cotton
good, manufactured in the nited States,
but 1t Is believed that any increase in that
rate 10 satisfy he contentious Of the Cuban
Government would place American cotton
manufacturers at disadvantage instead
OF giving them the trade in the island
European cote n e DDS are produced much
cheaper than American cotton goods and
L. sOiL" foreign countries the manufaCt.
urcrs have tue advantage of chcap.r
irclghts charg, Il 10y subsidized ships. With
the tarln rat, = the sa,ue in Cuba ON Amer
| lcan and European cotton goods, or very
mean ~ the same, the American manufaCt-
urers, II Is said, could not compete with
the others.
The case Of cotton goods is only one in
stance Of the difficulties confronting the
Administration III its Willingness To modify
It, tarln demands on Cuba. If that is thu,
only way in which the reciprocity treaty
can be- arranged, Other articles of CON-
mcrce present the same Condit ions in IA
Nor # Europe. IL is, therefore an inpor-
tlnt question whether any increase in the
rates Of duty proposed for American goods
imported into Cuba would place American
producers and manufact urers at dis
advantage in competition with Europe
instead Of giving them the right Of way
Ii is to find out mainly whether any ,uch
increase will be possible without Jury
| TO American interests that Gen Bliss Ia
going to Cuba.