New-York tribune., 1902-12-06
THE STATE OF CUBA.

Progress is apparently being made toward a
rectifcation of United States relations with
Cuba. A commercial reciprocity treaty is De-
ing negotiated upon rational lines. There are
rumors that it has actually been completed and
is ready for signing, while other reports state
that work upon 1t has been temporarily sts-
pended until certain legislation is effected by
the Cuban Congress. At any rate, there IS
good reason to expect that 1t will soon be COM
pleted and signed. There is also reason to
expect that It will be promptly ratified Wash
ngton dispatches say that the President mas
received assurances TO that effect from some of
the Senators who were conspicuous opponents
of the Cuban reciprocity bill at the last session.
In such circumstances there is cause for opt-
mism concerning the immediate future OF Cuba.
Without such an outlook for action at wash
ington, however the state of Cuba would not
be so promising There is no question-some
foreign reports to the contrary. notWlthstand-
ing-that the present year in Cuba has been a
bad one. 1t has not, happily. been as bad as
was feared. But 1t has been little short of dis
astrous. In October and November the volume
of business In all lines was much smaller than
in the corresponding months Of any other year
since the war. Collections have been steadily
falling off the amount of outstanding debts Is
greater than for many years, and the number
of failures in the last fiscal year was four times
as great as In the preceding year. If accounts
were pressed TO a settlement in Cuba as they
are in the United States half the merchants in
the island would lie forced TO suspend These
are significant facts. and II Is no wonder that
in the face of them President Palma said in his
recent message, ''The economic situation of the
country is certainly not satisfactory" II is true
that the estimated budget for the fiscal year
1902-'03 shows a surplus Of more than s2,6oo.-
600. But. then. this is attained by procrustean
cutting down Of expenses, amounting TO more
than 81, $50 oG0 II the government were con-
Quoted as II was during the American occupa-
ton there would be deficit of several millions.
Moreover, President Palma reports that In the
first half of 1902 there decrease IN ex-
ports amounting to $40, 100000, or 2S per cent
really startling showing.
Beyond doubt IT is high time for such meas
ures of reciprocity to be enacted will give
Cuba a chance for commercial prosperity. To
such measures President Palma looks as the
sole hope of Cuba. and to them the United
States Government is committed. Such meas
ures WILL we may expect, prove beneficial 10
the United States by increasing sales of
goods to Cuba by 200 or 800 per cent. 1t will
be far more profitable and honorable to devote
attention to the enactment and enforcement Of
such measures than to daily with futile schemes
for wheedling Or blackmailing Cuba into annex
alton. AS Jacques Cartier said, We must
spect the future" II Cuba shall prove able to
maintain herself in peace and prosperity In her
present political status. and shall desire per
manently to do, are bound to let her do
1t. If at any time she shall voluntarily seek
still closer political connection with this coun-
try we shall know hcw TO cross that bridge
when We reach it, For the present it is fitting
for the United States to adopt neither meas
ure Of coercion toward Cuba nor one of self
abnegaton, but rather to remain with its own
hands free while it gives Cuba in good faith a
fair field in which to work out her logical
DESTINY.