The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-30
EUROPEAN NATIONS
Will Seek to Prevent Cuban and
American Reciprocities.
q Rrnnklin EaCle.

Havana Special to Brooklyn Eagle.
The diplomatic and consular represen-
tatives of the European powers interest
ed in retaining a share of the Cuban trade
for their respective countries. Germany,
Spain, Great Britain, France, Italy, Bel
GUM, Austria and Portugal, arc deter
mined to defeat the proposed reciprocity
treaty between Cuba and the United
States at all costs. To accomplish this
end, the majority of them have instruc-
tons to go to the extremes.
Indeed, what they can not accomplish
through strong personal lobby before
the Cuban Senate and House. supported
by a few influential Havana newspapers
now under their absolute control, and by
inspired articles appearing from time to
time in other dailies of the capital and
provincial towns of the agricultural dis
tricts, they hope to bring about by direct
diplomatic pressure upon the cuban De-
partment Of State and the Chief Execu-
tive, upon whom notice has been served
that those European Governments that
recognize Cuba's sovereignty and indie
pendence' promptly after the change of
flag in May last, will expect all the ad-
vantages of 1.-The most favored nation" in
whatever treaties may be made in the
future.
Hence. the announcement that a clause
IT. the Hay memorandum submitted to
President Palma through Minister Soul
ers, in outline Of the salient points of the
reciprocity arrangement in project, pro-
videS for permanent dlnerential OF 70
per cent In favor of American goods,
products and manufactures, discriminate
ing against articles of the same class I'M
ported into Cuba from Europe to like
extent, fell like a bombshell In the field
of organized opposition.
So much mystery had been thrown
around the matter of the projected reci-
procity treaty, not only at the palace.
but in the United States legation as well.
that 1t was with the greatest difficulty
hat hn Afnlnnnata n
mercial representatives finally discovered
the hand of the American Government
through a statistical expert who was sum-
moned to the palace by President Palma
to aid the latter In his work of so re-
casting the national budget (Which has
just been presented to him in CabineO so
as to avert possible friction between its
supporters. when placed before Congress
next month. and those championing the
American treaty.
The fact has just developed that the
Hay memorandum has been in the hands
of President Palma more than six weeks;
but its contents have been held secret,
pending the adjournment of Congress
here. In some quarters. II Is feared,
premature publication and general dis
cussion might provoke storm Of popu-
lar protest. such as would menace the
very existence of the new government.
forcing the executive either to resign
from office and leave the island. or pro-
claim a dictatorship and call for Amer
lean soldiers to protect and sustain him
against his own people. Indeed. Presi-
dent Palma while he has instructed the
Cuban minister at Washington to assure
the administr alton there that he will do
what he can in constitutional way to
promote the acceptance by the Cuban
Congress of tire salient features of the
memorandum, which will be duly incor-
porated into treaty form and presented
to the Cuban Parliament, as acceptable
to the United States Government. he will
not undertake to assure its passage in
the form imposed, las that will probably
require strong pressure"
The Cuban executive does not attempt
to conceal the fact that the demands of
the United States with regard to the
treaty of commerce are disappointment
to him. and that. when generally known
throughout the island. it will naturally
provoke strong opposition, especially up
on the part of those Cubans more radi-
caIly opposed to the absorption of the
island by the American Union and who
had been led to suppose that the with
drawal of the American flag from the
nalace of government here clearly mani
tested the good faith" of the United
States and meant the redemption of that
pledge of It's government not to attempt
the exercise of sovereignty over Cuba,
but to assist its people to set up and
maintain a stable self government capa-
BILE of assuming international obligations
as an Independent nation and protecting
foreign life and property within its ter
ritory.