Carriages of two or four wheels and pièces of the same

It is agreed that the duties of the third column of the tariffs of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico mentioned in this schedule are understood to be those stated in the tariffs now in force, with the additional duties authorizedby laws and orders previous to this date.

(Signed,) Fabié.

Washington, June 12, 1891.

A true copy.

M. Suarez Guanes.

Mr. Blaine to Sefior Suarez Guanes.

Department of State.

Washington, June 16, 1891.

Sir : Having already had the honor to enter with y ou upon a transitory commercial arrangement between the United States and the islands

Commerce.

of Cuba and Porto Rico, to go into effect September 1 next, I now have the pleasure to ackuowledge the receipt of your note of the 12th instant, in which y ou inform me that , with the objet of giving a définitive character to said commercial arrangement, the Government of Spain, in reciprocity and compensation for the admission into the ports of the United States of America, free from ail national , State, and municipal duties , of the products of Cuba and Porto Rico enumeratecj in my note of January 3 last, is prepared by due légal enactment to anthorize the admission into said islands, from July 1, 1892, of the articles or merchandise named in the schedules annexed to your note of the 12th instant, on the conditions stated in said note and schedules ; that your Government gives the assurance that no export or port tax , whether national or provincial , shall be imposed on the articles admitted free into the United States ; that it will seek to have no greater municipal duties than those paid by national products imposed on the articles named in said schedules , and that said duties shall not materially increase the price of said articles ; and that the laws and régulations which may be adopted by Spain to prevent fraud shall not impose any additional charges therefor on the articles named in said schedules imported from the United States.

I am directed by the Président to state that he accepts this action of the Government of Spain, in proposing to grant exemption of duties to the products of the United States, as a due reciprocity for the action of the Congress of the United States, as set forth in my note to you of January 3d last.

I am also pleased to reciprocate the assurance contained in your note, and to state that no export tax, whether national, State, or municipal, can or will be imposed in the United States upon the products and manufactures enumerated in the schedules attached to your note of the 12th instant.

It may be further understood that, while the Government of the United States reserves the right to adopt such laws and régulations as may be found necessary to protect the revenue and prevent fraud in the déclarations and proof that the articles enumerated in my note of January 3 last, and whose free admission is provided for by the tariff law therein cited, are the product or manufacture of the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, the laws and régulations to be adopted to that end shall place no undue restrictions on the importer , nor impose any additional charges therefor upon the articles imported.

It is likewise understood that wheat-flour shall not share in the réduction of duties specified in Schedule B attached to your note of the 12th instant, which, on its exportation from the United States , may have been favored with any tariff advantages in the nature of drawbacks.

It is agreed that a repertory shall be compiled before the présent com* mercial arrangement goes into force, under the joint supervision of the Department of State and the Spanish Légation in Washington, to regulate the better application of tse said schedules in the custom-houses of Cuba and Porto Rico upon the basis stated in your note.

États-Unis d'Amérique, Guatémala.

It is also agreed that, when this définitive commercial arrangement goes into effect, the transitory arrangement to be put in opération September 1 next shall terminate and be of no further force.

T have, therefore, to request that you will call at the Department of State at your early convenience to agrée upon the time and manner of making public announcement of this définitive commercial arrangment, which, it is understood, shall remain in force so long as it shall not be modified by the mutual agreement of the Executive Power of the two countries , always reserving the respective right of the Congress of the United States and of the Cortes of Spain to modify or repeal said arrangement whenever they may think proper.

In conclusion, I am directed by the Président to state that the suggestion contained in your note respecting tobacco shall have his careful considération, and that it shall be made the subject of a separate note.

I improve the opportunity to offer to you , Sir , the renewed assurances of my highest considération.

James G. Blaine.

Sefîor Don Miguel Suarez Guanes, Etc., etc., etc.