Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-11
CUBANS DO NOT LIKE TREATY
Hold Convention with England is Inimioal
TO United States.
AMERICA BEST FRIEND AND CUSTOMER
senate Asks Opinion of Commercial
Bodies on the Treaty and They
Condemn Il without
Reservation.

HAVANA. Sept 1O-Two Of the principal
commercial economic associations, respond
ing 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
ought to be ratified declared emphatically
against ratification. The principal reason
given is that Cuba's interests are too in
evitaby bound to its great customer, the
United States, to permit of granting for
ten years such privileges to British ships
and citizens as those named in the treaty.
Another reason given is that the adoption
of the treaty would allow privileges to
British warships as well as merchantmen,
not warranted by the relations between
Cuba and Great Britain and not permissi-
BILE in view Of the relations between Cuba
and the United States The latter reason
is considered the most potent on account
CT the suspicion that the treaty, while
ostensibly one of commerce. navigation and
amity. would in reality give to British
warshps gre1ter privileges in Cuban ports
than those given to the United States by
the cession Of two naval stations.
United states object.
The treaty was signed in May last after
the definite favored nation clause had been
tions made by Mr.. Squiers, the American
minister The United States government,
on receipt of a report regarding the al
legged Objectionable feature, made per-
emptory representation against the treaty.
The copy was sent to Washington, since
which time, according to a statement made
to the Associated Press by Secretary of
State O'Farrll, the United States govern
ment has ceased its representations re-
garding it. II is known, however, that in
Washington the treaty is regarded is in
imical to the interests Of the United
States, not. perhaps, in a commercial sense,
because it does not contain any tariff con-
cessons. but in the broader political sig
nifcance of allowing British warshps
equal rights in Cuban ports with those OF
Cuban warships. under plea of stress of
weather or accident. thus giving to Great
Britain greater privileges than those grant
ed to the United States.
The senate committee to which the treaty
! was referred conided it first to the Havana
Chamber Of Commerce and afterward to
! the Central Economic association. The
/ former reported to the effect that while the
! privileges and immunites granted appeared
To he mutual they did not confer any reaI
! benefits on Cuba, which had few mercnn-
| tile ships and no warships, while the eN-
| tension of its shipping might be hampered
| by granting equal privileges to British
/ ships. The chamber emphatically advised
! that Cuba do not concede that In cases OF
! stress Of weather or accident both British
] merchant and British warships shall have
/ the right OF "abastericerse and pertre
/ charse," Spanish words signifying respec'
/ lively to supply with provisions and witt
war supplies and munitions. The chamber
! considered this to be inimical to Cuban In
/ terests, especially as no reservation wa'
made respecting the laws Of internationa
| neutrality.
| Action is Unwise.