New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-12
lrALY'S CUBAN TREATY.
MOST FATORED NATION.
She Has Secured Al the Rights OBJ
jected to for Great Britain.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. !


Washington. Oct. I.-Secretary Root at the
outset of his career as the head of the State
Department has hard nut to crack in de-
termining this governments, attitude toward the
treaty making powers of Cuba The question
is forced to the front in connection with the
Anglo-Cuban commercial convention now pend
ing in the Cuban Congress. which contains
clauses regarded ieopardizing American in
terests. The problem, it appears is COM
plicated through the fact that Cuba already
has a treaty in effect with Italy which con-
tains favored nation clauses, and grants prac-
ticaiIy the same privileges to Italy that Great
Britain would gain by the pending treaty.
The Italian treaty, which has hitherto es-
capped the attention of the State Department,
was ratified May >. 1904. It is effective for
ten years, and there is no way for the United
States to get around it pacifcaHy In com
merce and navigation. colonization and immi-
grafton, Cuba's treaty with Italy specifically
regards that kingdom as "a most favored ma
uon and gives to Italy every advantage that
the United States may acquire in the future.
The treaty goes TO the length of reiteratfng in
ten different articles that Italy shall enjoy "the
most favored nation treatment; in Article II. in
everything relating to commerce and naviga-
ton; in Article III. relative to local taxes Gus
toms duties and restrictions on reciprocal trade
In Article ", patents. ownership rights Of
literature. art, etc; in Article VIII inheritance
of real and personal property; in Article TX, ex-
emption Of personal services in land or
forces; in Article XII diplomatic privileges; in
Article XIV. in all port and similar dues and i'm
ports and exports: in Article XVI, regarding
coastwise trade: in Article XXI. entrance. stay
and repair of warships; in Article XXI, rights
of subsidized vessels in postal service; in Article
XXXIII. rights of Cuban citizens in Italian
colonies, and in Article XXXIV. consular rights
and immunities.
AS if to emphasize ItaIy's insfstence upon
most favored nation treatment in all these af-
fairs especially on equal terms with the United
States in Cuba. the last article of the treaty
makes the following significant exception:
It shall he understood that the stIpulations of
the preceding articles shall not include the cases
in which Cuba shall grant reduction in customs
duties the products Of another American
state; consequently, Italy shall not have the
right TO claim said concessions as a most IA
vored nation except when they shall have been
granted to other than an American state.
Opposition to the British treaty is based on the
belief that the granting of most favored nation
treatment to such a. great trading country as
Great Britain would menace the United States
commercial interests in Cuba and destroy this
country's chances Of maintaining the preferen-
tial position to which officials Of the administra
ton feel that the United States is entitled by rea
con of intervention in Cuba Similar comprehen-
sivo advantages, it is reported, might be gained
by Germany and France, and the division of
commerce among the powers that possess q.
great merchant marine would leave only small
share the United States
When the Cuban-Italian treaty. with its IA
vored nation clauses, ratified seventeen
months ago it was not regarded as iDiIaical TO
American interests. but it may have established
a precedent which the State Department cannot
overlook in determining the attitude OF the gov
ernment toward subsequent more important
treaties It may turn out that the privileges
which were granted to Italy comparatively
uninlportant trading power in Cuba would be in
furious If enjoyed by Great Britain, whose com
petition with the United States on an equal basis
might be disastrous to American steamship
lines and render utterly futile plans already pro-
posed by Americans to facilitate closer CONNER
cial relations between this country and the ISL
and.
There is no clause in the Italian treaty similar
TO the clause in the British treaty which. ac-
cordtng to an Interpretation, allows British ships
TO take on war munitions This, according to
the Cuban view, is not a serious difference, IN
asmuch as it is claimed that the privilege would
apply only in time of peace. and that the laws
of neutrality prevent the concession being a
dangerous one. In all other respects the pro-
visions in the two treaties are almost Identical.