611.3731/304

The Secretary of State to the Cuban Ambassador ( Ferrara )

Excellency: I have the honor to inform you that the Department received in due time the note of January 10, 1929, in which you [Page 894] state that your Government has carefully examined the Department’s note of June 13, 1928 and its enclosed study by the United States Tariff Commission regarding the effects of the Reciprocity Treaty. Your observation has been noted that the statements made in the study coincide in part with your Government’s views but to a certain extent do not; and your belief has also been noted that an analytical examination of the statistics and deductions “would not be conducive to the success of these negotiations” since, you observe, the differences that could be found are due to differing appreciations of the facts.

Your allusions to the intimate and cordial relations both political and commercial which, ever since the establishment of the independence of Cuba, have subsisted between our countries have been read with appreciation as has also your statement that your Government “does not aspire to anything else but to find a solution for the future that will be of common interest”; and I wish to assure you that my Government also desires that the relations between the two countries shall be mutually advantageous.

With reference to the suggestion, on page 17 of the English translation which you supplied with your note, that your Government “would be willing to enter into an understanding on the basis of a reciprocal interest, whereby Cuba be granted the free entry of her sugar for a limited quantity”, I wish to say that careful consideration is being given to the matter and that another communication will be addressed to you as soon as adequate study shall have been given to this suggestion and to your explanations and arguments.

Accept [etc.]

Frank B. Kellogg