The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-28
Secretary Hay Sends Warning
 Against Amendment
WOULD KILL THE AGREEMENT
Many influences at Work on Cuban Pride, and Yesterdays Meeting of the Senate Showed the opposi-
 ton to Be Quite Strong.

Washington, March 27-secretary Hay has sent a warning to Cuba that the slightest amendment of the Cuban reef procity treaty by the Cuban congress, even that which proposes to make It's ratification conditional on the treaty going into effect during the current calendar year, certainly would defeat the conven- tion itself, since any amendment must be submitted to the United States senate, and before that can be done the date fixed for the final exchange of notifications, March s1. will have passed.
 MT. Squires, the United States minister at Havana, has transmitted this note to the Cuban foreign minister, and he is hopeful that 1t will be sufficient to curb the desire to amend the treaty. It is fully realized here that foreign influences in Havana which would be affected injur- iously by the treaty are working upon Cuban pride to defeat the ratification by attaching amendments to the treaty. This was fully expected. and is regarded as within the legitimate duties of diplomatic representatives in such cases, but 1t is believed the effort will prove unsuccess-
 
 ful.
 Cuban Senate Divided.
 Havana, March 27.-Three separate re- ports on the reciprocity treaty with the United States were presented to the sen ate this morning by the foreign relations committed One, signed by the chairman Senor Bustamente the president of the senate. Senor Cpote, and by Senator Dolz, recommended the approval of all the amendments adopted by the United States senate. Senator sayas presented report against the ratification on account of the United States senate confnng the 20 per cent reduction on the duty on Cuban sugar to the basis of the tariff rates in the law of Mg7.
 Senator Tamayo submitted the third and adverse report upon all the amend ments. Both the minority reports were rejected by the senate. The majority report will be discussed tomorrow and 1t is stated that 1t will be approved by a small majority. It's provisions requiring the adoption of the treaty by the United States congress before December l. how ever, is generally believed to be fatal to the treaty since the acceptance by the United States senate of this provision is impossible.
 It is barely possible that the trio of sen- ators may make an amended report to- morrow.
 Amendments Unfair.
 Senator Tamayo's report was the first to be taken up by the senate. He argued that the amendments were all unfair and prejudicial to Cuban products. Senor led Tamayo had failed to show that the amendments did not protect Cuban sugar and consequently 1t was the duty of the senators to stand by the treaty Senor Dolz argued that not the shadow of d reason had been adduced against the amendments and that there was every reason for believing that the people of Cuba had pronounced in favor of the ratification of the treaty. He said that Cuba in way was involved in Amer lean politics. From appearances the recip- rocity treaty had become political ques- ton between President Roosevelt and the opponents of his reelection. In such a contest added the speaker, Cuba should ally herself with her good and generous friend against the trusts and his other enemies Senor Sanguilly made a satirical speech, paying his respects to President Roosevelt, but opposing the treaty in its entirety as being contrary to the interests, independence and dignity of Cuba. Senor Tamayo's report was then rejected by a vote of IS to '.
 Protection Uncertain.
 Senor Sayas urged the adoption of his report on the ground that the protection afforded to Cuban sugar under the amend ed treaty was uncertain and ineffective He acknowledged Cuba's friendship for President Roosevelt but added that 1t was folly to permit 1t to affect the ar- rangement of a commercial treaty
 Senor Bustamente replied briefly to the effect that the amendment regarding su- gar did not diminish the protection to be afforded to Cuban sugar.
 The senate then rejected Senor Sayas' report by r votes to ?.
 The question of the futility and dagger of the condition inserted in the majority report was not discussed.
 Advices have been received here from the Cuban minister at Washington, Se- nor Quesada, to the effect that the con dition which the majority report of the foreign relations committee recommends should be attached to the reciprocity treaty dhat It's ratification by the United States congress must be completed be- fore December D will certainly nullify the treaty.