, 1890-11-15

recipient VI a dNL uulO Ol dDHNlN C'ui"
munications from too jealous admirers.
Many of them are found to be not IA little
embarrassing, as they demand something
more than merely the convenient reply by
postcard. To such an extent is Mr.. Glad
stone troubled in this respect that publ
cation of the following announcement
has been requested Elm consequence Of
the increasing unauthorized deliveries at
Hawarden and elsewhere, Nj. Gladstone
wishes it 10 be known that he cannot hold
himself responsible for the safety or retdrn
OF birthday and autograph booNs, testi-
mOnials, collecting cards and books, pic
lures, poem, novels. music, and other
mauuscripts.'-Daily Telegraph 10 Oct,
At the Cabinet Council held this morn.
Ing at the Elys6e. under NJ. CaTnOt's pre-
sidoncy. some time was devoted to the
"Cust0ms Tariffs Question: Just a week
ago it was given out that Ministers had
decided in favour of a maximum tariff, IN
which reductions would be made for the
benefit Of nations prepared to offer various
concessions. From all, however, that l
had since heard on The subject, it seemed
bv no means certain that this system would
he adopted defnitively, indeed considerable
doubt prevailed III commercial circles as to
The real intentions Of the Government,
This doubt has now been set at rest, for
sthis morning it was settled, after some dis
cusSion. that the Cabinet would lay stimuli
taneousIy before the Chamber on the re-
opening of Parliament, a minimum as well
az q maximum tariff scheme. Both pro-
nOSalS. as a matter of fact, are draWt-up
and ready to he submitted to the Chamber,
40 that the doubts expressed we're fully
justified. The maximum scheme IS to be
apDlied to nations which decline to make
any concessions. The minimum one, ON the
other bend, will be used in the case of
those peoples which are willing to give a
0uid pro qu0. Now comes the question OF
the duration of these (avOurS. NJ, Lockr0y
who has held the Portfolio of Minister OF
Commerce, and therefore speaks with the
authority of eX perIence-haS just expressed
the opiniOn that the immediate application
of the General Tariffs would isolate France,
creating about her a ZollvereIn OF all the
states of Europe, which would combine for
the ruin of her commerce and industries.
The General Tariffs systemWOuld rcnderthe
commercial situation extremely unstable,
for a vote Of the French Chamber could
modify from one day to the other the dntlrs
levied on articles imported from abroad.
What manufacturer would accept an order
tor goods to be delivered across the frontier
in six months, if he were liable to pay a
much higher duty than that imposed at the
mOmen when the bargain was concluded
A stop would be put to all enterprise. II
the French frontiers were closed, the
wherewitlIal would be found to balance the
Budget without having recourse to fresh
taxes, but the cost of living would be high
or. and many Of the great industrial centres
W ould be ruined. TheChamberSof commerce
so far az mere numbers are concerned
are Protection list but the most important
are in favour of Free Trade. Not 4 few
PtntectiOnists have begun to perceive the
danger which would result from the carry.
ing of their theories to the bitter end, and
there WAS reason to believe that they would
content themselves with the maximum
tariff system" as originally adopted by the
Government. All this, however. has heen
changed by the decision at which the Mini
stry arrived today. II means practically
the conclusion of commercial conventions
with countries which can come to a salts
factory agreement with France, aS the
Government would he further empowered
to negotiate with a view to an arrangement
of a certain duration with different States,
which parliament could ratity eventually
or reject. The Importance of such a decl-
sion. which implies a retu lat least III
the case OF those nations with which agree
ments can be made-tO the system OF
'ICommercial Conventions of Treaties need
Il hardly be pointed out.-Ibid.