New-York tribune., 1903-01-12

be a business oversight on the part of the
United States Congress that would simply be
ridiculous
The financial condition of Cuba to-day is
better than it has ever been. This applies both
TO government revenues and to general condi-
tons- Ihere IS good crop of cane, and the
price at which it will be marketed this year
VIII be 100 per cent higher than last year. The
sanitary conditions in the island were revela-
tion TO me as compared with the condi-
tlons in 1898. The appearance of the people
now as compared with then was so marked that
fact, Cuba to-day is far ahead of the Cuba
OF -FOUR years ago that 1t seems like another
place entirely.
We need not fiatter ourselves that we can do
as we like with her as to terms the ground
that she needs Us in order to live commercially
as such statement is absolutely untrue. Cuba
is prospering, and every day she does this phe-
nomenaI business she is growing away from the
Uhlted states commercially. The chief products
of the island sugar and tobacco We could
use her entire output of both these commodities
On the other hand, Cuba, with the right sort of
reciprocal arrangements. would buy everything
she uses from the United States-the very
things she is now buying from Spain and Ger
many.
In company with Minister Squiers | went to
call upon President Palma President Palma
as, indeed, all Of the better class of Cubans is
most friendly toward the United States My
talk with him impressed upon me more than
ever the great necessity for the ratification, of
the Cuban treaty, simply with view 10 deveI-
opng American business interests in the island
If for other reason. With this trade agree
ment, American capital and American citizens
would go to the island and find ample oppor-
tunities for money making. As it is now the
American merchant is at disadvantage which
he cannot overcome the disadvantage of hav-
ing to compete with the Spanish and German
merchants, where all the advantages of trade
with them and nothing with the Americans
The condition of American business in Cuba at
the present moment is one of practical SuSpen-
sion, awaiting the outcome of the treaty negO-
tiations At present the CubanS will not even
buy cigar labels in this country, because of the
prospect of lower duties, should the treaty be
ratified.
Of +I,o
cidedly with the United States rather than with
Cuba, we stand to gain great block of trade
and lose nothing by the ratification of the
treaty, wherea > through a failure to ratify the
convention deliberately turn down most
productive market right at doors and with
But the incentive in dollars and cents must
be provided in order to offset the old Spanish
methods to which the country has been edu-
Gated. When the treaty is made operative
these conditions may be changed in the twink
ling of eye. and America virtually ap-
already large, bu. only tithe of what it will
develop into.
Mr.. Babcock tourneyed over the island during
his stay and obtained a general view of devel-
opments in all directions, with Havana as his
base With Minister Squiers, he visited the
proposed site for a naval station near Havana.
The thirty-eight mile trip made in the
tomobiIe of the Minister. and the country
around Havana was also inspected several
Journeys in this way. Representative Babcock
will call on the President tomorrow and make
a report of his visit. and incidentally announce
his enthusiastic support for the ratification
of the Cuban ,reaty-