Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-16
CONDITIONS IN CUBA
Her Congress Will Ratify
Reciprocity Treaty.
EUROPEAN INTRIGUE
FAILED TO EXCITE FEELING
AGAINST UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Pepper Says That Island Govern
ment Will Wait for Action by
Our Own Senate.
EUROPEAN INTRIGUE

planned to The Star this morning by Mr..
Charles M. Pepper. who has just returned
! from Havana.
1.-THE fight to prejudice Cuba against reci.
procity with the United States is over"
| said Mr.. Pepper. 'Tt has been a long one
and determined one, but when the coll
lapse came, usually happens, this was
complete. Less than a week ago, when
came away, the poll had been taken of the
| Cuban senate. 1t showed that nineteen or
twenty out Of twenty-four senator's would
vote to ratify the treaty. I was even told
that there might not be a single vote
against 1t. This certainty that the treaty
would be ratified was reached after its con-
tents were made public and after there
was time to hear from all parts of the
island. 1t was also after their committee
on foreign relations had given full hearings
ana mad uncovered whatever opposition
tnepe was. The cuts made in favor of some
or the imports of the United States will
hurt several local industries in Cuba. but
the representatives of these Industries on
peared before the committee and said thew
would not oppose the treaty All they asked
was that In future tariff legislation some
heed be given to their needs
European Intrigue Failed.
The elimination of the European In
trigue was in the organization of what thew
called an International chamber Of com.
merce. Its open purpose was to oppose the
Cuban republic seeking to favor the United
States at the expense of other countries.
They made that very clear In their meet
ings. Ine organization still exists but 1t
old not take ten days to show that II was
not going to be of much account in inf1u-
ehclng pending commercial ARRANGEMENTS.
few prominent Spaniards were in the
.loVement, out the inspiration was not from
SPAN, nor did the Spanish merchants of
Havana and of the rest of the island fall
INTO 1t. II the treaty goes into effect some
Of those big Spanish firms will be the first
10 shi1t their trade to the United States
Inc second largest business house on the
island, which, l understand, is controlled In
spain and France recently has reorganized
ana the Cuban partner spent two months in
IN 1ns country looking into the prospects.
Ihey do an enormous interna tional busf-
ness. l was told they. had made up their
minds that, except a few specialties, practi-
cally all their trade would be shifted to this
country; me CUBAN manager who was here
also said that their business would 20
through the ports of the south The south
ern states seem likely to get pretty direct
oeneht in this way, as well as in the ex-
portations of their products.
Waiting for the q. s. Senate.
But all these things" added Mr. Pepper,
have to be stated with a qualification.
While the Cuban senate, rejecting Cuban
sentiment. when the vote comes will be
strongly in favor Of ratifying the treaty,
don't believe it is going to make a rabbit
run to get ahead of the United States Sen.
ate. They are still in doubt there as to
what will be done here. That Is not sur
prlslng, for the reports which are received
are very confusing and contradictory. They
Know where they stand, but they don't
a6 fofo
after their experience last summer they
don't feel that they will know where this
country stands until the treaty has been
brought to VOTE
IF it fails?'
IF it fails Cuba will go along about as
she Is now going on, but she won't be az
prosperous as she might be and she won't
buy as many American goods as otherwise
she would buy. Nor will she feel enthusiasts
tic about going ahead and carrying out the
provisions of the Platt amendment. How
ever that is separate matter If Cuba
gets along for couple Of years, as she can,
then she may be able to make a showing
which will justify her in asking more
than 20 per cent on her products in this
market But II the present treaty goes into
effect the question is settled for five years.
Effect of Failure Last Summer.
There has been some criticism" said Mr..
Pepper. "of the Cuban government and Of
President Palmas administration for their
slowness in meeting the wishes of the Unit.
ed States in various matters. While there
are two sides to that question, personally
think that the criticism is not without JUS
tice. but the Cubans have one answer to
this which 1t is hard to meet.
The distrust OF our purposes and motives
which was caused last summer by the
failure of reciprocity was very hard to
overcome. Nevertheless, it has been done
slowly and, 1 think, thoroughly. Yet at
this very moment apparently no one can
to be ratified by the United States Senate.
and the Cuban politicians, who are a good
deal like our own, don't think they can
afford to put their heads IN a moose. They
have to keep the confidence of their con-
stituents, and if they were fooled a second
time this would be very difficult.
1.-THE great conservative force of Cuba Is
the country people, the field hands the
plantation and the small farmers. The
world over there are no better people They
worked for their keep last summer. They
are doing little better now, and they will
do still better with reciprocity. They know
this. and while, If 1t fails, they will keep
on pretty steady, their Indifference will be
drawback to carrying out American poll
cies.
The Real Question.
"It seems to come to this" said Mr.. Pep
per in conclusion ''the joint effort of the
combined European influence and Of
small anti-American element to keep the
republic from entering into trade arrange
ment which is certain to strengthen and
broaden friendly political relations has failed.
in so far as Cuba is concerned. 1t would
be a most remarkable circumstance now il
the European policy In Cuba should be
given new life and fresh power for mis-
chief by the failure of the American Con-
gress to insure reciprocity. I don't know
enough about the situation here in Wash
ington to guess whether the treaty will be
ratified or not, but If the tactics of last
summer are likely to be repeated and 1t is
to be choked to death by indirect methods
through the pressure of other business, 1t
would be worth while for President Roose-
welt to call the new Senate together in
March and see If that body Is not willing to
carry out the verdfcts of the November
elections. The United States in it's interna-
tiona1 policies, as they are affected by
Cuba, has enough at stake to- justify. this
course"