The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-18


States for the term Of American occupation
are given as follows:
lsSo sEeo'o'o''
1900 98I<s,ild
1901 Le'oiLo<u
Assuming, as may be done with safety,
that the figures Of the despatch Of June II
include coin, their total Of S25 ,243 200. when
compared with the figures Of the preceding
year, shows a marked decrease, while the
figures OF Cuba's total import trade show
for the term OF American occupation COM
mercial stagnation, and for the last year a
commercial decline.
Yet this falling OF ia lees unfavorable to
the island than it would appear to be on its
surface. Some Of it appears In a decrease
in the importation Of animals and animal
products. For the years 1899, 1900 and 1901
this item alone averaged about ti2 900 900 a
year. 1t included those cattle for working
purposes which enabled the island to in
crease her exports so materially. and fresh
and dried beef, lard, &c. a considerable
portion OF which is now supplied by the do
mestio industry. Yet, even with these al
lowances, it cannot be said that Cuba's in
dustrial and commercial situation is notably
encouraging, excepting the fact Of the dill
gent and persistent efforts made by the
island people for its improvement. They
are not sitting down In hopeless despair
but are using all their very limited resources
and exercising all their energies for the bet
terment Of their condition. In an article in
Harper's Weekly for June 20, Senior Rafael
Montoro, the Cuban Minister to England
says: The producing classes are striving
zealously to overcome adverse conditions Of
the market. Throughout the country there
prevails an earnest purpose to reconquer
wealth despite all these unpropitious con-
ditions."
As for the share OF the United States in
the trade OF the island, 1t stands in no IA
vorable light. Why should it stand other
wiser The Cubans came to us with offers
OF a trade which would soon have reached,
and perhaps exceeded 500 600 900 a year in
exchange for a fair equivalent. We re-
jected their proposals in manner which
Was denounced by press and public all over
the country excepting limited area which
feared injury to its local production. We
then went to them with a proposal to give
them an inch II they would give us yard.
Some OF the Cuban officials, for reasons Of
State policy, are disposed to accept our Jug
handle proposal. but the people Of the island
are in no way keen to take up such an ar
rangement.
Other factors appear in our trade rela-
lions with Cuba. Prominent among them
stands the fact that, price and quality Of
goods being equal. the merchants OF the
island give preference to England and the
Continent. The great majority Of these
merchants are Spaniards. with long-estab-
lished commercial connections in the home
land A large part Of their business is done
on open account. Had Cuban trade during
the last ten years been In the hands Of Amer
lean merchants demanding cash with the
bill of lading, or at most giving q si1ty-day
credit with insistence upon prompt pay
ment, the island would have been closed
out, utterly bankrupt from Antonio to
Maisi As it was there was not q single
commercial failure Of note or consequence,
Again, Spain. England and Germany have
made it manifest to Cuba that they want
the trade OF the island and are ready to
cater to it,
Cuba's people have at all times displayed,
and they still display, strong desire for
the closest possible commercial ties with
the United States. They cannot be ex-
pected to buy from us that which does not
suit the requirements OF their market at
prices and upon terms which are less IA
vorable than those offered by our com.
petitors business is business, and AmeH-
can merchants cannot hope to get Cuba e
trade for nothing or upon terms distinctly
Instantaneous to the island.