The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-03
RECIPROCITY
WITH CUBA
SOMETHING OF THE TREATY
WHICH Is NOW BEFORE THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.

WASHINGTON, December lathe
friends of the reciprocity treaty recent
ly negotiated between the United
States and Cuba have been assured by
members of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations that the treaty will
be taken up by that committee as soon
as practicable after the Christmas hol-
days. There were several conferences
on the subject at the capitol today
which resulted in this understanding
The terms of the treaty require that il
shall be ratified before the 31st day of
January, and its supporters appreciate
the necessity of getting it out of the
committee in order to avoid the neces-
sity of an extension of time. The treaty
makes more liberal provision for the
Importation of American articles into
the republic of Cuba than has been
stated heretofore, there being provis-
ions for reductions in some cases of
as much as 40 per cent, in others of 30
per cent, and in still others of 25 per
cent.
On all American-growno or American
made articles, except tobacco, imported
into Cuba, and not specified in the %,
80 and 40 per cent. classes, there is to
be a uniform tariff reduction of 20
per cent. In return, the United
States agrees to a uniform re-
.duction of 20 per cent, without
exception, on all importations from
Cuba. The new island republic does
not agree to any reduction on tobacco
grown in the United St2tes, or in the
territory of any of it's possessions, and
imported into Cuba.
The products of the United States
which are to be admitted into Cuba at
reduction of 20 per cent from the
rate of the existing Cuban tariff in
clude pottery, salt fish, copper-made
machinery, cast and wrought iron and
steel, and articles used in manufacture
ing them, glass, cotton and some cotton
goods, ships and boats, whisky and
brandy.
The 30 per cent reduction includes
cutlery, shoes, plated ware, drawings
photographs, engravings etc; mate
rails used in making labels and bands
for tobacco, common soaps, preserved
vegetables, butter, drugs, bottled beer,
ETC.; mineral waters and articles made
of hemp and kindred fibers, musical in
struments and writing and printing
papers.
The list of American importations in
to Cuba on which a 40 per cent reduc-
ton is made includes watches, umbrel-
las, knit cottons, preserved fruits, per-
fumery and wooden and silk goods.
There is a SPECIFIC declaration to the
effect that the rates fixed for each Of
the two countries by the other shall be
preferential of each party to the con-
venion as against all other countries.
There is provision against a discrim-
mating tax ON the articles affected in
the country of their origin. In case
either country changes the tariff rates
so as to deprive the other of advan-
tages granted, the other country is to
have the privilege of abrogating the
treaty, No specific provision is made
for a subsequent reduction in Cuban
duty so as to let American goods in at
lower rates by the regular methods Of
legislation rather than by treaty, but
there is a clause under which, if this
reduction is made, the Cuban govern
ment may reopen negotiations to secure
a modification of the treaty. 1t pro-
Vides for such a change only i'm case
the Cuban tariff should be so reduced
as to make the reduction unreasonable
from the Cuban point of view.
The treaty is to go into effect ten
days after its ratification by the au-
thorities of both countries.