The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-02
RECIPROCITY WITH FRANCE.
Removal of Restrictions ON Ameri-
can Cattle In Aim of Uncle sam.

Washington, Nov. 24.-The French
ambassador, VI. Patenotre, has received
a cablegram from his government re-
luesting him to start for Paris on Sat
urday night. Accordingly he will pre-
sent his letters of recall to President Nc
Kinley on Friday, sailing the next day
on the French liner La Champagne. The
ceremony attending the recall will occur
mt the White House at HID Friday
morning, when there will be the usual
exchange of formal addresses of courte-
sy between the president and the retir-
ing diplomat. NJ. Patenotre will remain
some time in Paris before proceeding to
his new post at Madrid This will af-
ford him an opportunity for comforting
with the Paris authorities and with the
new ambassador to the United States,
NJ. Cambon, on pending questions.
1t had been hoped that the reciprocity
negotiations between France and the
United States would be closed before NJ.
Patenotres departure, but this will be
impossible. The terms of the proposed
convention have been practically settled,
but the French government thus far has
not given its assent to the chief feature
of the arrangement, namely, the abroga-
ton of the present exclusion of Ameri-
can cattle from France and the admis-
sion of such cattle under certain restric-
tons. The United States has insisted
on this as an equivalent from the reci-
procty concessions on French cham
payne, vermouth, statuary. paintings and
brandy contemplated by the agreement.
On three articles France will receive
reduction of 20 per cent on the duties.
As against this no special concessions on
particular articles are given by France,
as the United States now receives the
benefits of the minimum schedule of the
French tariff law. Under these circum-
stances the authorities here fel: that the
time was oppOrtune for securing the adj
mission of American cattle to France.
The exclusion began about ten years ago,
when most of the European countries
put up rigid barriers against American
cattle. hogs, etc, on the ground that they
were infected with contagious diseases.
The state and agricultural departments
have long sought to overcome these re-
strictons and have succeeded in meas
ure. Great Britain and Germany have
partially modified the exclusion, allow
Ing the cattle to be landed, then slaught-
cred at once and the meat rigdly in
spected.
Up to the present time however, the
French government has maintained n
strict exclusion. In doing this, how
ever, they have insisted that they were
doing the same as the United States gov
eminent, as the present tariff law. pro-
vides for positive exclusion of all for
eign cattle, unless the secretary of the
treasury authorizes their admission from
particular countries.
The pending proposition is in sub
stance that American cattle shall be
admitted at all French ports, shall then
be slaughtered within twenty-four hours
from the time of landing, and the meat
shall pass an inspection before being of
fered in the French markets. This is
not all the authorities here would like
to secure, as the 24-hour limit does not
afford adequate time for fattening the
cattle after they come from the severi-
ties of an ocean trip. The main con-
sideration, however, is to remove the
barrier itself. and it is hoped that France
will concede this as part of the agree
ment. NJ. Patenotre was not prepared
to grant such concession, and accord
ingly referred the question back to the
Paris authorities. The answer has not
yet been given.
NJ Burewort, the French consul gen
eral at New York, will come here to-
morrow and continue the reciprocity ne
gotiations. He is personally familiar
with the trade of this country to and
from France.