New-York tribune., 1878-04-12
WASHINGTON.
mn.nr CONFERENCE At wORMLEYs.

A numbpr OF IO0gIteSlIth "h"
Informal meeting yesterday to discuss the sun
;oct of n Franco-American trade treaty. NJ,
Cbotteau was present, and asked that Nauonal
Committee be sent to Paris to decide upon the
matter. Numerous speeches were maze. Inc
Senate passed the Deficiency Bill yesterday, and
discussed several other prominent measures
Professor HOyt's confirmation as Governor
of Wyoming is said to have been probably due
70 the absence of thirty Senators. Rumors are
in circulation to the effect that England mas
seized the Samoan Islands. It's said that the
President will refuse TO rescind the order IN
relation to ofice-hOldeTs.
THE COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE
coxGrEssMEN AND OTHERS MEET A GENTLEMAN
PROM FRANCE TO TALK ABOUT A COMMERCIAL
TREATY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April I'm. Leon Chotteau, dele
rate of the Paris Committee, who visits America 10
secure the attendance of American delegates at the
Franco-American Congress in Paris, met number
NJ members Of Congress and Others mt Norhley
Hotel this evening. The object of the proposed
Congress is to discuss commercial relations between
tbis country and France and to secure, If possible
+be formation of a commercial treaty between lhe
two countries
The meeting was called to order by General
Banks. who introduced NJ Chotteau General
Banks said he had known this gentleman LOT
many years, and in sympathy Win
the object of his visit. The meeting
be remarked. was an informal one called by NJ.
Chotteau Senator Eustis, Mr.. Abram ;. Hewitt ana
himself and he hoped that citizens of Washington,
as well rs members of both branches of the Ma
tional legislature would take such interest in the
subiect as would lead to the formation of closer
commercial bonds between France and the United
States NJ ChOtteau, he said, has resided here long
enough TO become thoroughly acquainted with our
institutions while he is also well versed in CONNER
cIal and political lore concerning which he has
written well and learnedly
NJ Chateau said that Frenchmen in Paris thlnk
that something must be wrong in the commercial
relations of France and the United States. The i'm
portation of most American articles into France is
prohibited and French products which different
rules of exchange would bring TO America desert
our shores Tie United States, he said, wants to
extend its foreign trade and the question now Is.
Shall the prohibitions which paralyze the exports
from the United States TO France be removed! That
is the auestlon which he begged Americans TO come
and discuss at Paris with his cOuntrymen. If the
debates of the FrancO-American Congress prove
that no economic reform to be desired
between the two Nations, then they will
separate in a friendly manner, and the
present state of affairs will be maintained.
IT, on the contrary the Congresscounsels both Gov
eTnments in favor of an urgent reform, then salts
faction will be given to public opinion. NJ. Chat
ieau said that he came without anv prccOnceIved
opinion and wanted to hear nothing either OF free
trade or protection; no one need fear that the
Franco-American Congress in Paris will be organ
lied in favor of an exclusive interest the fOma-
tiOn of treaty of commerce between America and
France will be the cause Of millions of gain, and
that gain would be divided into two equal shares.
In closing he urged the organization of National
committee which should send delegation to Paris
during the Exhibition.
NJ Chatteau's speech was received with applause.
General Banks then said that it had been thought
best in the interest of this great movement to avoid
all appearance of official action such the adoption
Of memorials resolutions, so that Senators and
Representatives in Congress- with Others present,
might speak with greater freedom.
The secretary of the meeting Mr. Ernest Brula-
teau of Louisiana, read the appeal of the French
committee TO the people of the United States.
HEwITTs COMMENTS.
Mr. Hewitt then said that since 1867, when he
bad the honor of being one of the Commissioners TO
the Paris Exhibition, he had felt that the promo
tion Of the natural exchanges Of France and
the United States Of more importance to
both than the material exchanged between the two
cOuntnes. The Americans he continued, are an ex-
trayagant people fond of luxures while the French
on the other hand are a most abstemious race of
the six hundred million dollars worth of goods ex
ported last year only II per cent were manufac-
tured goods while 50 per cent consisted of raw
terals; import manufactured articles from
France, while she takes large amounts of raw ma
terials, such cotton and grain. Mr.. Hewitt said
that while there is great need for reciprocity,
for one he felt that whatever stands in the
way of the fullest reciprocity is something
which France herself has, in great
measure, set up. He cited the test Of mowers and
reapers made on the Champs De Mars at the Paris
Exhibition, at which the Wood reaper had mown its
allotted swaths before its competitors were even
hsnessed up, and yet while the manufac-
turer Of this great implement had sold hun
drods Of them even in Hungary, he had
found no purchasers in France, on account
Of the Reciprocity Treaty with England the
Cebden treaty., which operated to protect and
advance the introduction of English machines 10 the
exclusion of our own. Now, however, as il appears
france desires TO come forward and remove this
OBSTACLE. lie for one would willingly do all he
could 10 induce Americans 20 meet her half way
NJ Hewitt also referred 10 the great silk trade in
winch New-YOrk is largely interested, and said that
the condition Of this trade might be greatly
benefited by some change in our commercial
relations with France.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Mr.. Cox, Of Ohio. approved NJ. Chotteau's dis
olamer Of desire to promote any specific form of
uadePgHlatiOns, OF TO commit himself either TO free
trade orprotectye tariff specific ad valorem duties
lie said he approved this movement and felt that
the interchange Of ideas by means OF the proposed
committees Of both nations would lead to added
knowledge and to ultimate results greatly enrching
both nations
senator hill' in a few brief sentences cordially
expressed the sentiment of klndliness which he
ohershes for the country which NJ Cbottean rem