New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-17
CTRAN RECIPROCITY.

The results of the Cuban reciprocity treaty
are already becoming apparent and must be
regarded as gratifying and rs indicating the
contentious Of the advocates of that policy.
Briefly stated, our imports from and our ex-
ports 10 Cuba are both increasing. and at
steadily increasing ratio. That is precisely rs
il should be- and we are confirmed in the eX-
pectatiOn that the process will continue, at least
on one side and in one direction until the United
States has the dominant place in Cuban trade
TO which il is entitled by its proximity and by
the natural reciprocity of demands and supplies
which exists between the two countries.
1t is observed that imports from Cuba have
increased much more than exports to that cOun-
try. That was fully expected when reciprocity
was adopted 1t was inevitable that 1t should
be So and there was no reason to deprecate it.
and there is no reason TO regret il. The cir
cumstance arises, Of course from the fact that
Cuba's contributions 10 our market much
less varied than are ours TO hers. Reciprocity
meant, 10 her chiefly open market for her
sugar. She has been able in the first year of
the system to send TO us a greatly increased
proportion of her sugar crop. That has meant
an enormous increase in her sales TO us about
% per cent. But there can be no great cOntin-
uatiOn Of the increase Her productive capac-
ity is limited When she IS sending us all her
sugar her sales can increase only as her sugar
growing capacity increases, which will be- com
paratively, slowly. On the other hand. the in
crease in our sales of varied products TO her,
although slower. Will probably be much longer
maintained. and will be maintained at a greater
rate. Thus far it has been only % per cent, as
compared with her %. But next year the re
port is likely to be that her sales 10 have
increased much less than % per cent, while
ours to her have increased far more than %
The growth OF n varied trade is necessarily
slower than that Of a trade in only one or two
articles But II is no less sure.
The prediction that reciprocity would bene-
fit all classes Of American producers seems TO
be verified Comparison of March, 1903, with
March, 1904. shows an increase in sales OF
agricultural implements, for example, OF from
So SIS TO Sl0,155 and Of locomotives from $5,174
TO $3.50, That is good for the manufacturers,
But the exports Of wheat flour have also in
creased, from $17S,S5O to 1914 500. That is
good for the farmers of the United States. In
fact. the very circumstance that has made the
increase in our exports slower than that in
imports makes the increase beneficial TO the
greatest variety of American industries and
industrialists. The current statistics demon
strate that Cuban reciprocity has secured an
enlarged market and consequent advantages
for American farmers There are no indica-
tons anywhere that it has caused any injury
TO them. not 10 those sugar beet growers
whose impending ruin was not long ago so
tearfully set forth. We have not heard of the
abandonment Of the American beet sugar in
dustry, and We have perceived no reason why
it should be abandoned on account of Cuban
reciprocity.
This is the practical vindicatou Of reciproc-
ity upon the basis Of dollars and cents. 1t is
gratifying to have such vindication OF 1t, which
we were from the outset confident we should
have. The higher vndcaton Of it resides in the
fact that it is just and right. matter of
international ethics, apart from all considera-
tons of profit and loss. Not always do abstract
right and practical concrete profit closely
coincide as in this ease they happily do.