The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-17
EAGONISM FROM FRANCE.
,ch Mercantile Circles Aroused
Over the Diugley Bill.
ITfMENT FROM FOREIGN OFFICE
,,,nt Is Made Against the Ac-
az ccrtnin American Com
on Biinctailisin.

iris. April l6.-The Dingley tariff bill
.roused considerable antagonism in
,cb mercantile circles, where 1t is
~, ont that the measure may lead TO
bllcy disastrous in its effects on certain
an industries. Some representations
hs nature having already been made TO
,hers of the Fronch government, the
nlated Press sent to NJ. HanotauX,
French minister of foreign affairs. a
her OF questions bearing on the tariff
alton and the relations of the two re
lice The French office returned the
owing written reply:
Tho Federal government at Washington
succeed without any doubt in drawing
or the bonds which unite France and
United States by abstaining from over
|pg imported French goods, such as
Zrkling and still wines, brandies, silks,
blens, gloves, works of art, toys, etc
shut out Of the United STATES by quasi
khibltiye tariffs the product Of French
ustry and art Will evidently have a con-
by effect.
1t is TO be hoped this win not eventually
done. At the present time there are 10
Iferences between the two great repub-
They are bound together by too many
morles and traditions for q veritahle
rit OF hostiltles to grow between them.
solution of small current questions
Itch give rise to negotiations between
! two countries is, however. sonnet ines
hdered difficult by the argumentutivc
rit Of the American state department.
.Although France has no ground fer
mplainIng of the diplomatic and ronsuiai
presentations OF tho United States, there
nevertheless reason for stating that she
been surprised at the attitude Of Ger
In American consuls. one of them nd
tied TO exercise his functions In one of
p great ports OF France. seems quite re-
ntly to have undertaken the task of dis
raging the products of French Vineyards.
correct statements denied after inquiry
competent inquiries, have been ,epro
Peed in official reports by the agent IN
POSITION and made public In administrative
)cuments.
Another agent who also had eyer-
bed the functions OF consul in one of the
feat towns OF France spoke of French
Pines. in the course Of lecture delivered
the United States. in the most unfavor-
pie terms. the worst terms. Both agents
presented French wines as watered. adt1l-
frated mixed with plaster of paris and
pmDosed OF all sorts OF noxious ineredi-
BITS.
Gases such as these denote the deplor-
ble tendency and want OF prudence of GER
Pin American agents.
In reply to the question whether France
Youu retaiiate In case the tariff on French
Pous should be very much raided, the
french office added:
The answer to it is that France prefers
believe that congress will examine the
nestion with complete importantly and
'lll pronounce In the broadcast spirit Of
ood VIII and Justice on all proposals to
harge duties on French imports
In reply to a question as TO arbitration,
ie following was said:
France loves pelce and devo.es her
III to preserving it. She is consequently
no way hostile to measures. the object
winch is in general way a safeguard
peace. But before entering an agreement
en- as the one proposed between Great
ltaln and the United States France would
eter to await the final action o. the sem
and see the results of the experiment If
V be made"
n answer to a question as to what CO.
ration France would give to bring about |
international bimetallic conference, NJ. !
ntotaux said The cooperation y hich |
nee could give the United States IN the |
emblne of a monetary conference would |
'rally DEPEND on the state of relations |
ween the two countries. As regards BIZ |
allism itself the opinion In France |
ms uncertain and very much divided.