Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-11
OPPOSED TO TREATY
CUBAN COMMERCIAL BODIES ON
PACT WITH ENGLAND.
Grants Greater Privileges to British
Warships and Merchantmen Than
Are Accorded This Country.

HAVANA, September 1.-Two of the
principal commercial and economic associa-
lions. responding to 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 en-
phatically against ratification. The prin-
cipaI reason given Is that Cuba's CONNER
cial interests are too inevitably bound to
her great customer the United States. to
permit of granting for ten years such privi-
leges to British ships and citizens as those
named in the treaty. Another reason given
Is that the adoption Of the treaty would al
low the privileges to British warships, as
well as merchantmen not warranted by the
relations between Cuba and Great Britain
and not permissible in view of the relations
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,
to British warships greater privileges in
Cuban ports than those given the United
States by the cession of. two naval stations.
United States Makes Protest.
The treaty was signed in May last. after
the definite favored-nation clause had been
eliminated in consequence of the represen-
tations made by Mr. Squiers, the American
minister. The United States government
on receipt of a report regarding the alleged
original features made peremptory rep
resentation against the treaty. A copy of
the treaty was then sent to Washington
since which time according to a statement
by Secretary Of State O'Farrill, the United
States government has ceased its represent
tattons regarding 1t.
1t is known, however, that in Washington
the treaty is regarded inimical to the in
"a tod GfntA at l.,
commercial sense, because 1t does not con-
tain any tariff concessions, but in the broad
er political significance Of allowing British
warships 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
granted to the United States.
The senate committee to which the treaty
was referred confided it first to the Havana
chamber Of commerce and afterward to the
Central Economic Association.
Some Reasons Given.
The former reported to the effect that
while the privileges and immunities granted
appeared to be mutual. they did not confer
any real benefits on Cuba, which had few
mercantile ships and no warships, while the
extension Of her shipping might be ham,
pered by granting equal privileges to Brit
ish ships The chamber emphatically ad-
l.
of weather or accident both British mer-
chant and British war ships shall have the
right OF "abasterceres and perrtrecharse,"
Spanish words, signifying respectively to
supply with provisions and with war sup
plies and munitions. The chamber consid-
cred this to be inimical to Cuban interests,
especially as her reservation was made re-
specting the laws of international neu-
trality.
The chamber also considered that 1t was
unwise to conclude such treaty with an
oversee power, while no such treaty exists
with the United States, especially when
changes in the reciprocity treaty are advo-
Gated, which may include provisions for spe-
cial reciprocal tariff privileges regarding
goods carried in American and Cuban ships
The other association has not yet submit
ted its formal report, but 1t strongly holds
that the treaty is inimcal to the interests
of Cuba and the United States.
Secretary of State O'Farrill, on the con-
trary declares that the treaty contains
nothing inimcal to the interests of the
United States under any circumstances, and
some other persons who are close to the
government assert that suspicion regarding
the treaty is unwarranted.