The Irish standard., 1903-01-03
OPPOSE RATIFICATION.
Arguments Advanced by Senator I'm.
friendly to Cuban TreatS-Pres.
ideut In Confident.

Washington, Dec. 3O.-Considerable
opposition is developing to the rati-
fication of the Cuban reciprocity
treaty now pending in the senate
1t is not taking quite the form that
the opposition to the Cuban lcgisla-
ton took last spring, but it is suffi-
Gent in substance to give concern
to the friends of the treaty. From
time to 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
tariff concessions to the Cuban re-
public. Several weeks ago it appeared
that the treaty, when presented to
the senate, would be ratified without
difficulty, but some senators now are
taking as strong grounds against the
treaty as they took against the leg
islation proposed at the last session
of congress. These senators are
of two classes, those who are op-
posed on principle to any "tariff tink-
ering" and those who represent
states whose products NAV 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 demand
from other countries that they, too,
be accorded special tariff conces-
sions by the United States. 1t 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.
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 a 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-
mand. If it be not granted. the fear
is expressed that Germany may ini-
tate legislation that will be ininical
to the industrial development of this
country, so far as Germany is con-
cerned, even if it should not curtail
American commerce already estab-
lished 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.
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
iication no possible assault on the
tariff system of this country, and be-
lieves 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 a
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.