The New York herald., 1878-12-02
OUR TRADE With FRANCE
Important Report to the Baltimore
Board Of Trade.
PROPOSED NEW TREATY
Mr.. Hodges Shows How Our Manufacturers
Lose Millions Of Dollars.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 30, 1878.

BALTIMORE, NOV. JO 1878.
After the Mexican Minister Mr.. Zamacona. had
made his admirable address to-day at the Board of
Trade meeting. Mr.. James Hodges made very ex.
haustive statement which may prove of general in
terest Mr. Hodges is member of the firm OF
Hodges Brothers. the leading importers OF the South.
late United States Commissioner from Maryland to
the Paris Exposition, aud delegate from the Balti-
more Board of Trade to the Franco American Com
mercial Treaty Conference, held ut Paris in August
last His views regarding the reciprocity treaty be-
tween France and the United States novel, to say
the least.
HODGES ADDRESS.
extremely regret that my distinguished colleague
the Hon. Robert NJ. McLane, Is not present on this
occasion to assist me in rendering account Of
stewardship to this Board its delegates to the
Franco-American Commercial Treaty Conference
which commenced in Paris in August last. 1
relied upon his clear cooperative support
to satisfy you Of the good policy Of
action in favoring the treaty; but I
learned few days ago. much TO my regret. that he
had again sailed for Paris. BY the way, Mr. Presi.
dent, might be gratifying all these righteous
men. for the Board to know that Paris is re-
garded the latest conception of Paradise especially
set apart for Americans. and it is said that all
good Americans so there when they die. If this de-
lightful report be true it would seem to be good
thing for the elect to 60 there often before they
die, If only to learn the ropes and pick out the soft
places. But will proceed with the task before me-
In July last, being in Paris, received credentials
from tho Board creating delegate to the Confer
ence to which have referred. and which assembled
in that city the 7th Of August last In my letter
Of acceptance Of that unexpected appointment 1
said -whether it will advance the interests Of our
people to change the general tariff laws as to
ol-a
is question of SO much national gravity and d-
versifed in its effects upon the general welfare and
involves much investigation. that must reserve
my opinion upon the wisdom and expcliency of the
act until obtain better grasp upon the subject
than I possess. only say that, going
into the conference wholly uninstructed by your
Board, shall feel the greater responsibility
for my words and votes Hence you perceive
/ accepted the appointment and undertook to dis
charge the responsible duties you imposed on me
without conditions of my own instruct ons from
you My first act WAS to learn far possible with
tie limited means at my command the extent and
particulars Of the trading intercourse of the two
countries with each other. TO accomplish this
diligently applied myself to the study and nvestiga
ton OF the and with such results as shall
proceed to give previous to any discussion of the
question of a treaty.
Frst-I discovered that tho total exchanges of the
two countries for the fiscal year ending 3oth of june
1877, SOC 333. and that the exports of the
United States to France during that year
7S3. and that OILY s2ooooOo Of this amount
were of manufactured goods.
.Second-That during the same period the total ex-
changes between Great Britain and France were
about $500 0OO and that Of this Great Britain
exported France about $500 000, 900. chiefly OF
manufactured goods. against $2,OOO,000 of similar
articles exported by the United States to France
Third-ThGt under the influences OF the treaty Of
commerce between France and Great Britain. based
moderate tariffs, the aggregate increase in the
ports and imports between the two countries for the
year 1876 that of 1852 the year previous to the
negotiation of the treaty about sl63, 900 900.
The decrease in the exports and imports between
France aud the United States trading with each other
under high protective tariffs, was from
responding year to the other about 81, 100000
FoUrfh--That France has two tariffs which differ
widely in their rates. One Is known the tarif
general and the other the tariff coernonnei. The
latter had its origin in the CobdenChevalier Treaty
which was concluded between France and Great Brit
ain in 1860. The nations which have since
cluded commercial treaties with France the basis
of the tariff conrentionset Belgium, ITALY, Switzer
land Sweden and Norway. the Netherlands. Portugal
AUSTRIA Turkey and Germany. The commodities
and manufactures Of all other nations imported into
France subject to the duties provided for in the
torf 9tnerd. Tho difference in rates between these
two tariffs may BE- sufficiently seen by few examples
The duties in the list have prepared the rates
per kilo. (22O lbs.). with such EXCEPTIONS