Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-11-20
GENERAL BLISS
IS SENT TO CUBA
He Will Investigate the Indus
trial Conditions of the
[Sland.
CUBANS ARE HANGING BACK
Claim to BE So Situated ms Not to Need
Reciprocity Treaty With America
Want Much Greater Concession Than
20 Per Cent.

Washington, Nov. 13.--An important
conference on the subject of the Gu
ban lprCcity treaty was held at the
war department yesterday, the par
Elephants being Secretaries Hay and
Root and General Tasker Bliss. The
latter was called in TO the conference
at Secretary nays suggestion because
of mis- expert knowledge of the exist
ing Cuban tariff. Before the confer
ence at tn war department Secretary
Hay had talked on this subject with
Senator Cullom. chairman of the SEN
ate committee on foreign relations.
and aIso with Senior Quesada, the Gu
ban minister here. Senior Quesada
was not able to submit to Secretary
Hay the d aft of the reciprocity treaty
which has been under consideration
so long by the authorities at Havana.
as the document has not left that
place.
So officially the United States gov
eminent continues in ignorance of the
extent and character Of the changes,
If any, which President Palma may
desire to rake in the treaty.
In other than official sources, how
CNSAy nao uCNCAOpGu pAosty tllO
disposition of the Cuban president in
this matter. The cardinal objection
Of President Palma to the treaty as 1t
stands IL the insufficient rebate of 20
per cent proposed to be allowed on Gu
ban imports into the United States,
and Secretary Hays purpose is to as
certain, II possible, how far ne, can
yield in that matter and still be able
m ralry N "a Of rnr cc
next session when the treaty is sub
mitted. So far. his advices do not
favor any increase of the rebates, and,
indeed, he has been assured by some
persons with whom he has talked that
under no conditions would congress
consent to any substantial increase OF
this rebate.
1t is understood that the ubans,
too, are entirely unwilling to accept
any small increase. In the face of a
great shortage in the European crop
and rapidly rising market. they have
acquired confidence in their ability to
get along for an indefinite time with
out reciprocity with the United States,
and so 1t Is understood they are show
ing an Indifference in the prosecution
of the treaty negotiations, which is
Of our own negotiators.
A nigh official of the government
who is well informed regarding our
relations with Cuba. is discussing the
proposed reciprocity treaty today,
said: 1T is possible that demands of
this country may be modified slightly
on an investigation of trade relations
in Cuba, as the first draft of the treaty
wac tho hasia Of auraaronnf
There is no disposition, however,
to offer a greater concession to Cuba
than 20 per cent, which will include all
products of the island, while the con-
cessions demanded vary from to z
per cent. This is explained by the
fact that the concessions must be con-
sidered not so much on percentages as
upon existing tariffs. The tariff of the
United States on all articles produced
in Cuba is so high that a 20 per cent
reduction will mean much to the
island. This relates especially to
sugar and tobacco and will enable the
Cubans to either undersell all other
foreigners or secure greater profits on
their products than people of other ma
TONS"
President Palma makes the point
that conditions have changed in Cuba
80 that whereas the 20 per cent rebate
might have served when it was first
proposed, it would at present afford so
little relief as not to warrant the sac
rifice of Cuban revenues that would be
involved in its acceptance
Secretary Hay has determined to
clear up that point and to that end. af-
ter talking with Secretary Root. it was
decided that General Bliss should be
sent at once to Cuba to make q per
sonal investigation of the Industrial
situation and the fiscal possibilities of
the island. So 1t is improbable that
pending his return from his Cuban
visit the state department can advance
the treaty negotiations in any way.