New Britain herald., 1922-10-20
CUBA CONSIDERS
 TARIFF REPRISALS
Increased Duty on Cuban Prod.
 uCts StirS Up Sentiment

Havana, Cuba, Oct, Enactment
 of the Fordney tariff, with its in creased duties on Cuban products, has served to unite the inchoate and d. vided sentiment in Cuban financial and commercial circles for revision of the Cuban-American reciprocity treaty.
 Through Secretary of State de Ces- pedes, the enormously capitalized su- gar and tobacco interests are present. ing their case. Denouncement of the present treaty. signed in 1902 and granting Cuba 20 per cent prefer ential, 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- ister to the United States, Dr, de Ces- pedes has made rapid progress in his work of laying the ground work for treaty revision. Data has been com piled shownp how the present recip- rocal arrangement, under which American exporters virtually have a monopoly in the Cuban market is claimed to confer more benefits on the United States than on Cuba.
 Confcrs With Crowdcr.
 Coincidentally with his statistical endeavors, tho secretary is conferring with Major General F. H. Crowde r, 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 Fordney sugars 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 papers, committees of defense and other unofficial means both in Cuba and the United States, the cane forces did their utmost to secure reduction in the emergency tariff rate. Their efforts now are being directed to doc ument adequately the state depart ment in its treaty revision negotia- tions.
 Tobacco and Sugar
 The Cuban tobacco interests, less aggressive and more deliberate in their campaign. have finally joined forces with the sugar men and Cub n diplomacy. In a long exposition of the decline of the Cuban tobacco in- dustry, the Union of Cigar and Cigar cite Manufacturers of the Island of Cuba has just presented formally It's 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 tatke par ticular exception to the American | duties because of the alleged insuf- ficient preference given Cuba in view of the virtual monopoly enjoyed by American exporters in supplying Cuba's imports. The decline in ex- ports to the United States from 1o1,- 6S9,560 cigars in 1889 to 20967,656 in 1921 is outlined and the claim made that, even if revision of the reciprocity treaty, as the tobacco men requesk increases the preferential rate from 20 to 50 per cent. and [ brings Cuban cigar imports back to the 1889 figure. this would be only a | drop in the bucket compared to the | present annual manufacture of S.000,- | 0oo, ,000 cigars yearly in the United | States.
 While the state department is pulling the diplomatic strings, con- gress is considering more direct meas | ures. Numerous projects for tariff | reprisals against countrieh discrimi hating against Cuban projects have aroused sentiment strong enough to result in a determination by the | house of representatives to open hear ings on a revision of the tariff to protect Cuban industries. This was by President ayas in mes sage to congress on July 2l, 1921,