Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10

Cuban sugar, even though enjoying tht
benefit of the 20 per cent discount
could not be sold in this country at 9
price lower than the one manufactured
here. On the other hand, they also as.
Sert that the greatest sugar interests ir
Cuba are controlled by American cor.
porations. who are deriving immense
benefits from the low tariff now in eff.
feet. Is it just, asked one of the agri.
cultural representatives during the last
sessions of the committee on ways anc
means. that while several of our coun.
trymen are becoming rich in Cuba be-
cause Of the low impost on Cuban sugar
that We should have to struggle here
put up with all the Inconvenience
caused by that industry in the United
States and pay dearly for its exploita-
ton without having even the hope OF
successfully competing with the suga,
which, at New York, is cheaper than
the cost of our own production? He also
brought out the fact that by increasing
the present tariff those wealthy Ameri-
cans would be compelled to invest their
capital in the United States at the same
time that 1t would place the sugar in
dustry in this country in a position to
compete with that imported from Cuba
Attitude of Cuba.
|
claim to have logical and well found
ed defense. Cuba Is the principal
buyer of the United States in Latin
America and the United States Is
very DESTROYS for this reason, more so
than anybody else, that the economic
situation In the island be not subjected
to the Inconvenience which would
naturally result from an increase in
the sugar tariff, a product which, with
the tobacco industry. comprises the very
life of the Cuban republic. II by in
creasing the customs duties an eco
nomic crisis is provoked in Cuba. the
upon the foreign commerce Of the
United States. It was SO declared some
time ago by a Cuban representative
before the Association of New York Ex-
porters, at which time he also added
that If the importation of sugar Is
subjected to the proposed increase in
the tariffs. the result would be that
Cuba would close her market to Amer
lean products. And the exporters in
| this country would realize the UNI
favorable consequences If such thing
should happen.
| Importation Already Cut.
According to recent statistics pub
| lished by the commerce department
of Cuba. the importation of American
| goods has diminished considerably.
| This Is due to the present crisis pre-
vailing in Cuba, occasioned by the de-
preston Of the sugar industry, which
Is being felt throughout the island. If
| to this already adverse state of affairs
should be added the further burden of
an increase of 100 per cent to the ex-
isting tariffs on sugar, without a doubt
''Cuba. Uncle Sans principal consumer
in Latin America" would have to
| diminish even more her importation
from this country. The Cubans also
contend that the duty imposed on her
principal product is quite sufficient as
| 1t is. And such is the case in fact. for
| that duty today amounts to SO per cent
-valorem," while on other goods
they are much lower. Butter, cheese,
eggs and potatoes pay Is per cent;
wheat, SO per cent: bacon, 10 per cent.
etc. And yet it is asked to further
complicate matters by increasing the
existing rates, which already are pro-
hibitive, to sum that would amount
to l2S per cent "ad-valorem." If the
demands of the sugar beet producers
are given heed to. This Is equivalent,
in the opinion of the Cuban producers,
to an attempt at excluding the Cuban
sugar from the American market. And
IL the United States cares no longer
to buy the Cuban sugar, the Cuban
people, on the other hand, could not
be expected to continue buying Aneri-
can products. The argument Is clear.
It is not possible to import without
exporting.
American Investments.
In addition, 1t must be borne In mind
that az uer cent Of the capital In
vested In the sugar industry in Cuba
| belongs to American citizens. who to-
dav see In great danger their invest
ments of approximately $500, 600, 900,
or one-third of the total American In
yestments in Latin America. The re-
suit is. therefore, that In every dollar
that is lost in the Cuban sugar m
dustry the North Americans lose %
cents. Besides this, If the sugar tarM
Is Increased. the pockets of 100, 000, 900
American consumers would be emptied
to the extent of $3.50, 000, 900 per an
mum. or a sum equal to the total cap
ital invested in the sugar industry IN
the United States. These ngureS are
most eloquent. ,
things have been overlooked In America
And these are: First, that during the
World War the North Americans were
the ones to promote and encourage tne
growth of the sugar production IN Cuoa,
which today is alarming them. SECOND,
that the low prices of the Cuban sugar
have not been brought about by the
Cuban producers, for they would be the
first ones to lose. Third, that 30 per
cent of the capital exploiting the sugar
industry in Cuba is as much American
as the capital employed in the develop
ment of the same industry In the
United States. Fourth. it Is true tnat
under the protection of the treaty OF
reciprocity signed by Cuba and the
United States, the sugar industry mas
grown and immensely developed. put IL
Is also true that the provisions OF TINS
most important buyers OF Uncle sam,
and for this reason the latter could very
we'll suffer great losses II Cuba, COM
PEELED by the imposition Of the proposed
| tariffs, would denounce or nuli1fy the
| treaty and undertook to sign similar
one with Great Britain. Fifth, that the
Cuban sugar, not a finished proouct,
has encouraged the establishment OF
new North American industry, that OF
refinery, which Is being managed ana
operated by American capital.
To summarize the Cubans contend an
increased tariff would impoverish Cuba
and reduce the volume Of the CONNER
cial expectation of the United States,
+, imposing at the same time an enormous
sacrifice upon the consumer. from which
no direct benefit will be derived by the
American farmer.
And advocates of q great co-fraternity
of American nations must overcome
tariff troubles before the ship of pam
Americanism can be steered into the
high seas Of peace and perpetual under
standing.
Wild Animals Swim
Mississippi River