30 THECUBAREVIEW 



SUGAR REVIEW 



Specially written for The Cuba Review by Willelt & Gray, New York, N. Y. 



We wrote you last on July 3, 1918, and since that date negotiations have been under way 

 with regard to the price to be paid for the new Cuban crop, and in this connection we give here- 

 with the full report of the Cuban Commissioners asking for an increase to the basis of 5.60c. 

 f. o. b. Cuba, against 4.60c. during the present campaign, together with a statement by the 

 International Sugar Committee in this connection. 



INTERNATIONAL SUGAR COMMITTEE. 



New Cuba Crop Negotiations. — ^The Mission of the Republic of Cuba to the United States to 

 negotiate a sale of the Cuban sugar crop which will be produced in Cuba in the year 1919 met 

 with the International Sugar Committee today (July 29th) in New York. The Cuban Mission 

 appointed by President Menocal consists of 



Senor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Cuban Minister to the U. S.; 



Mr. Robert B. Hawley and Mr. Manuel Rionda representing Cuban producers. 



At the close of the conference Mr. George M. Rolph, Chairman of the International Sugar 

 Committee, authorized the following statement : 



"It was decided at the conferences today to make public the official statement of the Cuban 

 Government represented by the Cuban Mission, with the further statement that the Inter- 

 national Sugar Committee recognizes the need of meeting the increased cost of production in 

 Cuba, shown by the brief to amount to over half a cent a pound. The prospective increased 

 cost in Cuba for producing the crop of 19 9, however, as outlined by the Cuban Mission, would 

 mean the addition to the price of sugar in the United States of a full cent a pound, based on 

 the previous Cuban contract now in effect. 



"On account of the divergence of views of the members of the Cuban Mission from the 

 views of the members of the International Sugar Committee as to the price, it was decided to 

 refer the question to both Governments in the hope that an early and mutually satisfactory 

 adjustment of price may be made. A meeting for this purpose will be arranged to be held in 

 Washington next week, at which representatives of both Governments will be present. 



"This course of action was entirely agreeable to the Cuban Mission which, following the 

 precedent of last year, again placed itself at the disposal of the United States for the considera- 

 tion of such fair prices as would meet the needs of Cuba, both as to prospective costs and as 

 to the desired stimulation of its sugar industry." 



Mr. Rolph, at the request of the Cuban Mission, released for publication the brief presented 

 on behalf of the Cuban Government to the International Sugar Committee, reading as follows : 



A REVIEW OF THE PRODUCTION OF SUGAR IN THE ISLAND OF CUBA. 



In coming together again for the purpose of discussing and determining the price of Cuban 

 Sugar for the ensuing year, we think it important to state on behalf of Cuba, whom we have the 

 honor to represent, that the spirit of the Government in undertaking these negotiations is to 

 co-operate with the United States and the Allied Powers of which Cuba is a single and integral 

 part, in such manner that the fullest quota of sugar it is possible for Cuba to supply shall be 

 produced and on a basis that shall be fair to producer and consumer alike ; and to this necessary 

 end, Cuba engages to put forth her utmost strength. That an understanding may be easily 

 and promptly concluded, we submit for your information the following statement of facts 

 concerning the prosecution of the sugar industry throughout Cuba: 



ITS ADVANTAGES- 

 ITS DIFFICULTIES- 

 ITS COST OF PRODUCTION— 



A-irantofires.- With its semi-tropical climate and fertile soil, Cuba is without a rival in the 

 ultimate quantity of sugar it may produce. The investment of its production is on a scale of 

 four million tons, and its capital value one thousand milHon dollars. These are the elements, 

 which nature and enterprise have brought together. It is a single Island, in area the size of 

 ISTew York State, but strike its development from the list of contributors and the loss would 

 be irreparable to the American consumer, and under existing conditions imthinkable — to the 

 world at large. 



The Difficulties that Vex the Cuban Producer. — ^An industrial interest of this character can- 

 not proceed without difficulties, and naturally with this vast acreage under cultivation and great 

 need of increased output, the problems of organization, the assembly of labor — in ordinary 



