Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-03
1HE CUBAN TREATY.
Opposition to Ratification In Beine
Developed.
FRIENDS Of MEASURE CONCERNED.
Seine Of the Arx1aenm Adx..e>d hv
Hts Opponents - President Roose-
Welt Feels Conadens That the
, Treaty Will He Ratified.

Washington, Dec. 3o.-Cons;der,b1.
opposition is developing to the ra,i-
hcation of the Cuban rec5nroci+v
treaty now pending in the senate
IL Is not taking quite the form that
me opposition to the Cuban legisla-
ton took last spring. but it is suffi-
caent In substance to give concern
10 the friends of the treaty. From
tlne 10 time, as opportunity offers,
the president is discussing the matter
with senator's, particularly those who,
are known to have objected to the
enactment of legislation extending
farm concessions to the Cuban re-
public Several weeks ago it appeared
that the treaty, when presented to
the senate, would be ratified without
dlfhculty. but some senator's now are
taxing as strong grounds against the
treaty as they took against the leg
1siation proposed at the last session
OF congress. These senators are
OF two classes, those who are op-
posed on principle to any tariff tink-
erlng and those who represenr
states whose products may be affect
ed by the concessions extended to
Cuba by the pending treaty.
Senators of the first class might be
induced to support the treaty, mas
much as it does not involve, in their
view, an attack on the system of pro-
lection. were it not for their appre-
hension that the ratification of the
Cuban treaty may lead to a demand
from other countries that they, too,
be accorded special tariff conces-
sions by the United States. It has
been indicated by the president thai
in the event of the ratification of the
Cuban treaty, demand may be ex-
pected from Germany within 80 days
for concessions similar to those &C.
corded Cuba.
Germany's Attitude.
The most distinct desire of the
German emperor, it is pointed out, is
for the extension of the foreign COM
merce of his empire. He, of course,
regards Cuba as nation foreign to
the United States. If tariff conces-
sions are granted to Cuba, Germany,
under the most favored nation
clause, will request that she be given
similar concessions. That request
may take the form almost of de-
1nand. If it be not granted, the fear
Is expressed that Germany may ini-
tiate legislation that will be inimical
to the industrial development of this
country, so far as Germany is con-
cerned, even if it should not curtail
American commerce already estab-
ished in Germany and it's posses
sions. The same argument is applied
to other countries. Germany being
used simply as an example of wha:
may be expected of all of the great
foreign nations with which the Uni.
ted States has extensive commercial
relations.
Expects Ratification.
The president, it is understood, be-
lieves that the pending treaty with
Cuba will be ratified. He desires that
it should be ratified as promptly as
possible, and with as little friction as
may be. He sees in the proposed rat
ification no possible assault on the
tariff system of this country, and be-
ieves that it would be simply the re-
demption of promise, direct or i'm
piled, made to the Cuban people when
they were in the throes of the organ
ization of their government. In this
view the president is supported by
large majority of the republican
senators. While some trouble is an
ticipated in effecting the ratification
of the treaty, it is believed generally
that ratification will not be delayed
seriously.