The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-10-20
Cuba Considering
Tariff Reprisals

Havana. Cuba, Oct. 4.-EnactmentI
of the Fordney tariff, with it's in
Gre 'sed duties on Cuban products,
has served to unite the inchoate and
divided sentiment in Cuban financial
ard commercial circles for a revision
of the Cuban-American reciprocity
treaty.
Through Secretary OF State dc Ces-
redes, the enormously capitalized su-
gar and tobacco interests are pre-
senting their casef Denouncemcnt
of the present treaty, signed IN 1902
and granting Cuba 20 per cent pref
erential, and the conclusion of new
commercial pact, with an increased
preferential, is asked.
Since assuming last July his dual
role of Secretary Of State and Min
lister to the United States, DR.. de Ces
redes has made rapid progress in his
work Of laying the ground work for
treaty revision. Date has been COM
piled showing how the present re-
ciprocal arrangement, under which
American exporters virtually have
monopoly in the Cub market, is
claimed to confer more benefits OH the
United States than on Cuba.
Coincidentally with his statistical
endea vors, the secretary is comforting
with Major General E. H. Crowder,
personal representative of President
Harding, the members of the cabinet,
congressional leaders, officials of the
principal commercial and industrial
organizations of the island, and IS in
FREQUENT communication with the
Washington state department
With the 1.76 Foldncy sugar duty
finally fixed, the campaign Of the Gu
ban sugar interests for more favor
able treatment has been turned from
publicity to diplomatic channels.
Through local manifestations, news
rapers, committees IF defense and
other unofficial means both in Cuba
and the United States, The cane 10 .ces
did their utmost to secure a reduction
II tn" emergency tariff rate. Their
efforts now are being directed to ,ocu-
ment adequately the state depart :aent
in its tre"ty revision negotiations.
The Cuban tobacco interests less
their campaign, have finally ioincdI
forces with the sugar men ard Gu
ban diplomacy. In long EXP s;tion
of the decline Of the Cuban tobacco
industry, the Union of Cigad and Gig
arctic Manufactures of the Island of i
Cuba has just presented form Ill Its
case to the state department.
While admitting that every nation
has taken care to hit tobacco imports
with heavy imposts as an article of
luxury, the cigar makers take par
tlcular exception to the American du-
ties because of the alleged insufficient
preference given Cuba in view of the
virtual monopoly enjoyed by Ameri-
can exporters in supplying Cuba's i'm
ports. The decline in exports to the
United States from 1O1 ,689 $50 cigars
in 1889 to 2O,967 ,656 in 1921 is out
lined and the claim made that, even
if revision of the reciprocity treaty,
as the tobacco men request, increases
the preferential rate from 20 to so
per cent, and brings Cuban cigar i'm
ports back to the 1889 figure, this
would be on va drop in the bucket
to the present annual man
lfacture Of 100000 900 cigars year
~ in the United States.
While the state department is pull
ng the diplomatic strings, congress
8 considering more direct measures.
Numerous projects for tariff reprisals
against countries discriminating
against Cuban projects have aroused
/ sentiment strong enough to result
n a determination by the house of
representatives. to open hearings on a
revision Of the tariff to protect
Message to congress on July 81, 1921.