New-York tribune., 1902-12-08

DELAYED Reciprocity Modified Attitude of the People

BY Marion Wilcox

far in a widening margin between actual Dis.
bursements and receipts. must Inevitably be
overborne before long by pecuniary obligations
that fall into three elasses-(D those unques-
toned and matured. % those imposed by the
will of a majority of the people and 81 those
that must be accepted in order to secure the
future development of the latent wealth Of the
country. But not even the most optimistic view
represents the income Of the government as suf-
ffeient to meet such additional charges upon its
revenues. Here. then. are the horns of very
real dilemma: The government OF President
Palma must either confess that 1t is hopelessly
poor, in order to shirk such obligations. or be-
come hopelessly poor IN the effort TO meet them.
There is only one path that leads to security
and safety, and that escape has been steadily
indicated by the more intelligent citizens OF
Cuba II is reciprocity with the United States
such an arrangement of the terms for the inter-
change of products as viii make Cuba prosper
GUS What we have said already Is enough 20
show that Cuba must have her full share IN the
advantages of any such arrangement if the
means are to be provided which VIII guarantees
the stability of her institutions
If Ia also true that to her must be conceded
her full share in the advantages OF any new
tariff Arrangement if our aim is to detach the
lively Cuban imagination from the suggestions
or our European rivals referred to at the be-
ginning of this article. To appreciate this point
n is necessary for 10 have clearly IN mind
the form, that the European propositions must
take the limits within which they must be con-
fne5 lest they should be Immediately rejected
hv the Cubans on the score of impract1caoli1ty'
for the latter have been well instructed IN the
traditional policy Of the United States with ref
erence to foreign interference in the affaIrs OF
the island
Hitherto every well considered foreign oHer
~ relief has been conditional, amounting sub
s,antiaIlv 70 this: Provided the United States
refuses terms essential to your prosperity. then
1,or NAV look to US We wfr grant an equivalent
for the concessions that the United States with
holds If the United States insists upon throw
ing away its advantages, then We shall, OF
course. be glad to appropriate such advantages
aiding YOU and ourselves at the same time But
We know very we'll that your great neighDor
has only to make you reasonable orIer 10 VIII
vour friendship again" And conditional IN TINS
sense every well considered European PROPOSE
ton must continue to be, until the time Tor ne
gotiations between the United States and Cuoa
shall have expired
Now this is a comforting statement inAs-
much as it shows that If our government adopts
a certain course the danger Of foreign com
pIieatiens will straightway disappear The IN
deriving Significance, however, bears directly
upon the negotiations for treaty that are no"
proceeding so slowly. If we think OF II atten-
lively for moment we may find that 1t stmph-
fes the whole question
For what is implied in the quoted words
oterms essential to Cuba's prosperity and a
reasonable offer" from the United states?
Plainly. that an agreement between the lnsular
authorities and their European friends has been
,sachad so to what is essential for Cuba's pros
parito and what kind of proposition from the
limited States can be regarded as reasonable
A conditional offer, such we have mentioned
couId not he discussed without common IN
derstanding as 10 the American terms that
sb,,Is ba aeceptable, conclusion SO obvious
that II may add little to it's force to say that
,-a arc ,ot lA,t to mere conjecture in this mat
ter.
Nanv Cubans and many Europeans. both Of
ecials and merchants. resident in Cuba, think
that the United States should cut the eAlstins
tariff rates on Cuban products in two. Failing
reduction of 80 per cent on the customs dueiss
,n,pessd by the United States on Cuban prod
ucts it is the opinion of these persons that CuOa
should make arrangements with European ma
tions to secure equal advantage IN Europea"
markets.
With the subsistence of the expectation oi
substantial favors still to be granted oy 'n7
ITnited States. and with the reaction or pro-
test against the old feeling OF absolute depend
ence has come the most interesting phase Sr
Cuban politics The several branches or the
political party that advocates a large measure
of freedom have been drawn together to oppose
the Platt amendment
The Nationalsts and the Radicals. making