The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-24

Cuba are noting some pc
cular developments in that
island. The Washington correspondent
of the New York Tribune writes:
Minister Squiers and General Bliss
are encounterng unforeseen difficulties
at the beginning Of their task of nego-
tiating Il reciprocity treaty with Cuba.
Never has one country been so generous
to another as the United States pro-
posed to be to Cuba in the draft of Il
treaty which General Bliss carried to
Havana. In framing it Cuba and her
industries were thought Of. The phi
mary object in view was to furnish
Cuba with a market for everything
which she raises for export This was
to be done in spite OF the facts that her
principal exports are sugar and tObac
co: that sugar and tobacco are largely
produced in the United States: that
those interested in these industries in
this country have strongly opposed rec
iprOcity, and that the United States
government would surrende. large
amount of customs revenue. In return,
concessions in Cuban tariff rates as
would give to American merchants that
predominanCe in the Cuban market to
which their geographical proximity en-
titles them. Cuba's revenues We're not
to be reduced. but the inevitable effect
of the new tariff would be to increase
them.
at was naturally supposed that when
this plan was laid before President Pal
mas government it would meet with
ready acceptance, but information
which reaches the officials in Washing
ton leads to the fear that anti-Amer-
lean influences at work in Havana will
be able to block the framing of the
treaty. 1t is almost incomprehensible
to tile administrations that any faction
of intelligent men in Cuba should al
low themselves to he led into opposition
to this treaty and members of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's administration cannot
understand why the president should
encounter opposition in Havana after
having taken issue with many of the
leaders of his party on the subject OF
generous treatment for cuba, having
appealed to the, country for support in
the recent campaign and having Won at
the polls. Yet it is undenia bic that such
opposition exists, and that it is power
ful enough to embarrass President Pal
ma, who Is believed To be personally
alive to the advantages of the proposed
treaty and to the great Importance to
Cuba of its consummatlon.
This conditions of affairs in Havana
has been brought about, to some extent
at least. by the activity of the agents
of European business houses, who see
thai if the treaty goes through their
sales in Cuba will be seriously affected.
They have been zealously supported in
their anti american campaign by the
diplomatic and consular representatives
of the countries from which they come,
and all the influence of Great Britain.
Germany, France ana Spain in the
island has been arruyed against the
United States. No opportunity has been
lost of suggesting 10 the Cubans, whose
experience under Spain was not such
as to encourage them TO believe that
any nation could be disinterested, that
the United States had ulterior motives,
and that the proposition for closer
trade relations and for the retention OF
coaling stations We're simply indications
that the great Republic of the North
was determined to keep the Cubans in
vassalage
"lt is pointed out that there is
strange significance in the fact that,
just ON the eve of the opening of nego-
tiations by General Bliss ministers
plenipotientiary of European govern
ments have entered the field of contro-
Verslal pamphleteering, as has been H.
lustrated by the publication in Havana
of the British minister's report. in
which he contends that the crisis In
cuba has been exaggerated, and that
the distress through which the planters
have passed has really been of immense
service 10 Cuba in teaching the planters
economy This is the more significant
for the reason that it is unusual for
British diplomatic reports tn be made
public through any other channel than
the foreign Office in London. Minister
Gardens action in giving out his report
in Havana is regarded as being indel-
cate and unfriendly. The degree of sue
cess with which this anti-Amerlcan