Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-21
TREATY STILL HELD UP
Cuban Trade Convention With
Great Britain.
THIS cOUNTRYS PROTEST
It Has Been Effectual in Preventing
Action.
ASSERTIONS OF AUTHORITIES
Declare That the United States Would
Not Be Injured by the
Agreement.
ASSERTIONS OF AUTHORITIES
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

~ "h>IiaM CUh1lS.
written Tor The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Inc cuban congress is again in session
and an effort will be made to ratifv the
treaty negotiated last winter between Cuba
ana treat Britain, to which the United
states government has made serious oh
lection, on the ground that it would give
BRUSH merchants and manufacturers the
same advantages in the markets of Cuba
mat We're secured for the merchants and
manufacturers of the United States by the
reciprocity treaty ratified in 1903 The
British treaty Is still In the hands of the
committee on foreign relations of the Cuban
senate 1t never has been reported. The
committee has needed the protest of the
United States minister at Havana not
Withstanding the strong influence exercised
b ythe British in that island.
President Palma insists that the treaty.
does, not hurt the United States or 1t would
never have been signed by him. Minister
Quesada IN Washington takes the same
ground. He says that ii is an exact copy
or treaty negotiated previously with
italy to which objections were offered
n .;o, the United States. He points out Ar
ucie \, which expressly excerpts customs
duties levied on imports from the operation
OF the treaty. This article reads as follows:
Article X-Except as regards customs
NuSicS lSNidUic On imports the nigh con-
tracing parties agree that, in all matters
related to commerce, navigation and in
dustry, and privilege, favor or immunity
Whatever which either high contracting
party has actually granted or may here
after grant to the citizens or subjects of
any other foreign state shall be extended
Immediately and Internationally to the cit
liens or subjects of the other contracting
party; 1t being their intention that in these
respects, the commerce, navigation and in
dustry of each country shall be placed by
the other on perfect equality with the
commerce, navigation and industry of the
most favored nation
Mr.. Quesada also points out a similar ex-
ception or reservation in Article II, which
reads:
mo prohibition or restriction shall be
maintained or imposed on the importation
or any article, the produce or manufacture
of the dominions and possessions OF either
of the high contracting parties into the
dominionS and possessions of the other
from whatever place arriving which shall
not equally extend TO the importation of
Ike articles being the produce or manu-
facture of any other foreign country. This
provision is not applicable to the rates of
customs duties leviable on imports, which
remain regulated by the internal legisla-
ton Of the two states
The American Construction.
q Mr.. Quesada thinks that these provisions
clearly contradict the assertion that this
treaty will be interpreted giving British
merchandise the same reduction in duties
that are allowed on American goods by our
reciprocity treaty. Our construction of the
favored nation clause is very different from
that prevailing among European nations.
We contend that 1t does not apply to reci-
procity treaties unless the other nation
gives what termed compensatory adj
vantages' That is, no nation is entitled to
favors or concessions granted by reciprocity
treaties unless 1t makes similar concessions
But Great Britain mixes even greater con-
cessions in favor of Cuban products than
the United States. 1t admits everything
free except tobacco, while we give only
reduction from our regular tariff.
The principal motive for this treaty with
Great Britain seems to have been the graft
ication of Cuban pride. The Cubans are
naturally anxious to be recognized as an
independent nation by tire great powers A
certain class of people think they have
served their apprenticeship to the United
States and should be allowed to run their
own affairs. There is good deal of Jeal
ousy CONCERNING the "overlord" attitude
that has been assumed by the United States.
and, by making series of treaties with
foreign nations the discontinued feel that
they can assert their individuality as ma
ton.
Our Treaty With Cuba.
Our treaty with Cuba was to run for five
years, ending July /, 1905 but 1t will con-
tinue indefinitely, according to its term
until either nation denounces It, Cuba
would be helpless without the market of the
United States and her planters and business
men are very anxious that the treaty should
be renewed for q definite period of years
to relieve the uncertainty. There is large
amount of capital withheld from investment
because of the possibility that the treaty
may be terminated. A committee of the
Planters Association has submitted to the
Cuban government plan for revision OF
the existing agreement upon much more
liberal terms for both governments, and 1t
is probable that the matter will come up
formally very soon. 1t is doubtful. however
whether the Senate and House would ratify
a more liberal treaty. 1t Is even doubtful
whether they would consent to a renewal
of the present one after the refusal to give
a reduction in tariff dues to the Philippine
sugar planters. Therefore the Secretary of
State will be extremely prudent in his nego-
tiations. There have been several PROPOSE
lions In one form or another to limit the
benefits of the reciprocity agreement to
sugar and other merchandise carried in
American and Cuban vessels, but the Cuban
planters would never consent to this
very large amount of sugar is brought from
Cuba to the United States in Norwegian
vessels which give very low freghts; at
least one-half lower than any American YES
sci can afford to accept and the freight
charges come out of the planter and not out
of the reffner. The price of sugar is regu-
lated in Hamburg for the whole world. and
the cheaper the transportation from Cuba
TO New York market the more the planter
makes.
Prosperity Of Cuba.
Cuba Is very prosperous notwithstanding
the present low price of sugar. and the
prosperity is due chiefly to the reciprocity
treaty. Mr. Quesada. the Cuban minister
in speaking of this the other day said:
After the war in 1902 our sugar harvest
was but little over 800, 600 tons: in 1905
we made over one million one hundred
thousand tons, and we will reach one mil
Hon and quarter in the near future pro-
vided the necessary labor Is obtained, and
not cheap labor at that This Is a won
derful showing indeed for country Of
the size of New York, and fact which
gives the lie to those who still doubt as
to the activity and love of work of the
Cubans. This year the crop will be 100000
tons short. owing to the rains but our
wealth is not confined to this one staple
tobacco. rum, fruits, fine woods. sponRes
and several mineral products also con-
tribute to make that island great foun-
tain OF production.
I'm 1889 the total of exports and inn
ports of Cuba were SIG coo, coo; in 1900 and
1901, s1300o0.o0o, or an increase OF $4,000
eco: in 1902, Sal. 000.0o0 or an increase Of
S1i 600 COO; in 1908 nearly sl6p 900 oll or