Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-27
ALARMED OVER treaty.
Great Britain Fears Great CONNER
(, cial Harm from Cuban Reel
procity Pact.
SPECIAL CABINET AEE1lns SUMMONED.
Ambassador Herbert Forcibly ReD-
sesents British Objections to the'
Treaty TO Washington Authorities
t-stats Department Deniea That
There II secret Clause In Treaty.


treaty between Cuba and the United
6tates threatens to raise one OF the
most serious differences OF opinion be-
) tween Great Britain and the United
States that has occurred for years. So
much importance is. attached to the
matter that meeting OF the cabinet IS
being specially summoned to see what
action can be taken. There is, OF
course, no alarmist feeling as to amy
possible straining of diplomatic rela-
lions, but Great Britain's entire COM
mercial policy is believed to be vitality
concerned. The matter came to head
through the deputation from the
chamber of commerce Of the United
Kingdom which waited upon Foreign
Secretary Lansdowne Friday. 1t in
cluded several members Of parliament
and represented the most powerful
business interests from all the British
industrial centers. Replying to the
delegates argument that all the adj
vantages which the government had
gained by securing the abolition Of the
sugar bounties would be sacrificed il
fhes Cuban reciprocity treaty became
operative, Lord Lansdowne said he
thoroughly realized the gravity of the
situation and proceeded to read dis
patches showing that Ambassador Her
bert had forcefully represented the
British objections to the treaty, point
ing out that it was: to all intents and
purposes discrimination against all
the British possessions in the West In
dies. Secretary Hays reply main
ing no more than it had right to do
and intimated that it had No intention
TO modify the Cuban treaty.
lord Lansdowne added that all the
information available pointed to the
fact that the treaty would pass, but he
announced that the cabinet would con-
slider il anything further could be
done.
Secret Clause.
The delegates said they understood
that the treaty contains q secret
clause stipulating that no further
measures Of reciprocity shall be nn-
dertaken by the United States toward
the British West Indies. II such was
thecaseitw was suggested to Lord Lans-
downe that Great Britain would be,
only within her rights In retaliating
with an increased duty on grain. The
foreign secretary gave no intimatien'
on this point, which apparently was
only suggested IN the hope that some
Of the members Of the cabinet who are
reported TO be strongly In favor OF q
more protectionist policy might use it
a. a handle to forward their views.
Planters Of JamAiea Alarmed.
Kingston, Jamaica, Jan.28. The
planters Of Jamaica are alarmed at
the prospects Of the passage of the
reciprocity treaty between Cuba and
the United States, and are again
strongly urging the government Of
this colony to take measures
TO negotiate new reciprocity
treaty with the United States.
One Of the leading planters has writ
ten to the newspapers saying that
without reciprocity treaty it is
Impossible TO compete against Gu
bans, under the new conditions in
America, which is our best market p
TO Extead Nme 81 Ratification.
Washington. Jan. - The state de.
partment Is considering the advis-
ability Of extending the period OF
time allowed for the ratification Of
the Cuban reciprocity treaty, now
pending before the United States SEN
ate. The time allowed for ratifica-
L. Nod,
While the senate managers are con-
Hdent Of their ability to secure the
approval Of the treaty within the
time limit. the president and Secrsr
tary Hay have about concluded that
they will scarcely be warranted in
risking the loss Of this important
convention. and therefore they con-
template the drafting Of special ar
ticle in the shape OF q protocol which
will provide for safe extension Of
the period allowed for ratification.
Decay secret Clause.
The attention of officials who have
had to do with this treaty was di-
rected Saturday to the statement
made in London to Lord Lansdowne
by the delegates of the chamber OF
commerce Of the United Kingdom ia
the effect that the Cuban treaty con.
tanned q secret clause STIMULATING that
no further measures Of reciprocity
shall be undertaken by the United
States toward the British West In.
dies. It was explained that there
was no secret clause in the treaty
What the delerates ,1ndo,lhfedlv has3
reference to was the amendment to
the treaty made by the senate COM
mittee prohibiting for term of five
years any diminution Of the sugar du-
ties in the tariff laws, the effect Of
which would be to prevent the con-