File No. 611.3731/39.
The Secretary of State to the American Chargé d’Affaires.
Washington, November 2, 1911.
Sir: The Department has received an informal memorandum from the Cuban minister in Washington, as follows:
The Cuban Government desires to know if President Taft would be inclined to agree with President Gómez on a modification of the present treaty of reciprocity between Cuba and the United States, extending it for a fixed term of five years, but reproducing all its present stipulations; the foregoing to be a preliminary toward the negotiation of another treaty on reciprocal commercial arrangements in which greater advantages be given by Cuba to American products, in compensation for similar concessions to be granted by the United States to Cuban sugar and tobacco, on obtaining the favorable disposition of Congress and public opinion in both countries.
The President is not unmindful of the value of the commercial relations which have been developed during the life of this convention and of its great utility in affording Cuba a market for the island’s leading products on better terms than are received by competitors in Europe and elsewhere. He believes that it has also been a useful means of promoting the stability of the Cuban Government and that its advantages are appreciated by the Cuban people. At the same time he is compelled to take note of the frequent complaints of commercial interests of the United States that the advantages given them in the Cuban market are not commensurate with those afforded Cuban products in the markets of the United States. Experience has shown that on many commodities from this country the duties are either too excessive or the preference is not great enough to insure the broader market which should exist in Cuba for American products. It would also seem that some duties might be decreased with advantage to the Cuban consumers and without loss of revenue to the Cuban treasury. This Government does not regard it as practicable to ask the Senate to approve of the renewal of the treaty in its present form for a period of five [Page 99] years and then before the expiration of that period undertake to modify its terms by negotiating a new treaty which in turn would have to be submitted to the Senate for approval and to the House of Representatives to originate and pass an enabling act to put it into effect if approved by the Senate which would have to concur in the enabling act. The treaty being in effect it would seem that negotiations for a convention which might replace it could be carried on without disturbance of the mutual commerce that obtains under it.
You are instructed to inform the Cuban Government that the President is desirous of maintaining and promoting in every possible way the prosperity of Cuba and of cementing the cordial relations that now exist. He is willing to comply with the request of the Cuban Government in so far as relates to the negotiations of a new convention which will take into account the conditions that have developed since the original treaty was ratified.
The President would prefer that the negotiations shall be conducted through the Department of State in Washington.
I am, etc.,