New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-11
REPORT AGAINST TREATY.
CUBA BOUND TO AMERICA.
HaUana Commercial Bodies Object
to British Contention.

Havana, Sept 10-Two of the leading COM
mercial and economic associations, responding
to a confidential request made by the foreign
relations committee of the Senate for advice as
to whether the pending treaty between Great
Britain and Cuba should be ratified, have de-
clared emphatically against ratification The
principal reason given is that Cubas CONNER
cial interests are too inevitably bound to her
great customer. the United states, to permit of
granting for ten years such privileges to British
ships and citizens those named in the treaty
Another reason given is that the adoption of
the treaty would allow privileges to British
warships as we'll as merchantmen. not war
ranted by the relations between Cuba and Great
Britain, and not permissible In view OF the re-
lations between Cuba and the United States.
The latter reason is considered the most
potent. on account of the suspicion that the
treaty while ostensibly one of commerce. navi-
cation and anlity would in reality give to Brit
ish warships greater privileges in Cuban ports
than those given the United States by the
cession of two naval stations.
The treaty was signed in May last after the
definite favored nation clause had been elm
mated, in consequence of representations made
by Mr.. Squiers the American Minister. The
United States government, receipt of re-
port regarding the alleged Objectionable feat
ures made a peremptory representation against
the treaty. copy of the treaty was sent to
Washington, since which, according to Secre-
tary O'Farrill, the United States has ceased its
representations regarding it. 1t is known, how
ever. that in Washington the treaty is con-
sdeTed inimical to the interests of the United
States not. perhaps, in a commercial sense, be-
cause it does not contain any tariff concessions
but in the broader political significance of CIV
ing British warships equal rights in Cuban ports
n Oft of stress
of weather accident, thus giving to Great
Britain greater privileges than those granted to
the United States.
The Senate committee to which the treaty was
referred confded 1t first to the Havana Cham
Der of Commerce and afterward to the Central
Economic Association.
The former, after much private consideration,
reported to the effect that. while the privileges
and immunites granted appeared to be mutual.
they did not confer any real benefits on Cuba.
which had few commercial ships and no warshfps.
while the extension of her shipping might be
hampered by granting the same privileges to
British ships. The Chamber emphatically adj
vised that Cuba do not concede that in cases
of stress of weather or of accident both British
merchant ships and British warships shall nave
the right of ''abastercerse'' and 'pertrecharse,
Spanish words signifying respectively TO supply
with provisions and with war supplies ana
munitions.
The Chamber considered this to be inimical to
Cuban interests, especially as no reservation was
made respecting the laws of international neu-
tralty. The Chamber also considered that 1t
was unwise to conclude such a treaty with an
oversee power while no such treaty exists with
the United States. especially when changes IN
the reciprocity treaty are advocated, when may
include provisions for special reciprocal tariff
privileges on goods carried in American ana
Cuban ships. 49,
The other association has rot yet submitted
IT'S formal report, but 1t strongly holds that
the treaty is inimical to the interests OF CUBA
end the United States Secretary O'Farrll, On
the contrary, declares that the treaty contains
nothing inmcai to the interests of the United
States under any circumstances. and some other
persons who close TO the government assert
that suspicion regarding the treaty is unwar-
ranted,