611.3731/246
The Chargé in Cuba (Curtis) to the
Secretary of State
Habana, October 29,
1927.
[Received November 2.]
No. 2333
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of the Department’s telegram No. 83 of October 28, 6 p.m., 1927,
referring to a communication which Ambassador Crowder addressed on
November 17, 1926 to the Cuban Government regarding reciprocity.
The Embassy’s files reveal that on November 17, 1926, General Crowder
addressed an informal note on this subject to President Machado. A copy
of this note is enclosed herewith.
[Page 505]
On November 16, 1926, however, the Ambassador sent the Sub Secretary of
State of Cuba a letter regarding this matter, with which he forwarded a
Spanish translation of the memorandum prepared by the United States
Tariff Commission, which memorandum the Department had transmitted to
the Embassy with its instruction No. 781 of August 21, 1926.5 A copy of General Crowder’s
note to Dr. Campa is forwarded herewith. Inasmuch as the memorandum in
Spanish above referred to is a direct translation of the English text of
the memorandum prepared by the United States Tariff Commission, and,
further, inasmuch as the work involved in making a copy of this Spanish
text would entail some delay in complying with the Department’s request,
the enclosure to Ambassador Crowder’s letter to the Sub Secretary of
State is not being transmitted herewith.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The Ambassador in Cuba (Crowder) to President Machado
Habana, November 17,
1926.
Dear Mr. President: In pursuance of the
Cuban proposals for revision of the Reciprocity Convention of 1902,
a detailed study of that Convention has been made by the United
States Tariff Commission and a copy furnished me with a statement
that there could be no objection to presenting it informally to an
appropriate official of the Cuban Government, should I deem it
advisable. I have accordingly sent a Spanish translation of said
memorandum to the Cuban Foreign Office. This memorandum is the first
of a series of studies to be made. Others will follow from the
United States Departments of Commerce and Agriculture. The purpose
in furnishing these studies in advance is not to inaugurate formal
negotiations but to promote a study of the underlying questions in
the most cordial spirit by both Governments.
Undoubtedly the Secretary of State of Cuba will furnish Your
Excellency with a copy at an early date.
I am [etc.]
[Enclosure 2]
The Ambassador in Cuba (Crowder) to the Cuban Subsecretary of State (Campa)
Habana, November 16,
1926.
My Dear Señor Campa: I have received from
my Government a memorandum prepared by the United States Tariff
Commission relating [Page 506] to the
proposal of the Cuban Government for a revision of the Reciprocity
Convention of 1902. The memorandum in question is not in the nature
of a final reply from my Government but represents the study of the
Tariff Commission of the effects of the Convention upon the trade of
both parties thereto, so far as the effectiveness of the respective
tariff preferences can be separately estimated and distinguished
from the influence of other factors tending to increase trade
between the two countries. I understand that pertinent studies are
likewise being conducted by the Departments of Commerce and
Agriculture. Meanwhile, the Department of State is continuing to
give the proposal of your Government careful consideration. Since it
is desired that facts and arguments on both sides, which throw light
upon the question whether the Convention of 1902 is indeed
reciprocal in its actual operation, be examined in the most cordial
spirit by the two Governments concerned, I have caused a translation
to be made into Spanish of the memorandum of the Tariff Commission,
which I append hereto, for the information of the Cuban
Government.6 It should
be understood that in handing you this memorandum I do so most
informally, and that the content is, of course, confidential. You
will naturally appreciate that the translation into Spanish is
prepared for your convenience and is not the authentic text, which
is to be found only in the English text always available to you in
this Chancery in the event you should care to refer thereto.
I understand that a monograph on the same subject has been prepared
by the Cuban Foreign Office. If convenient I should very much
appreciate being furnished with a copy thereof at the earliest
possible moment.
I am [etc.]
