The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-31
AN AGREEMENT
WITH FRANCE.
The First Commercial Treaty Under
the DingIey Law,
FRANCE SHOWS HER GOOD WILL.
Changes i'm Number Of Articles
Constituting the ChicfTrade
with the French Nation.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May S0.-4he
United States and France have con-
cludcd the first commercial agreement
entered into under Section Of the Ding
ley tariff law. The negotiations have been
sending for the last eight months, and
after many vlcissitudes we're concluded
e. Saturday last when Ambassador Cam
Bon I'm behalf Of France. and the Hon.
Echn A. Kasson. reciprocity commission
o. for the United States. affixed their
signatures to the formal agreement. The
president to-day issued a proclamation
granting the reciprocal reductions speci-
fed.
REDUCTION IN RATES.
The French authorities will also decree
a reduction in the French rates in ac-
crrdancc with the agreement. The
agreement makes important changes in
the tariff rates on n number of articles
constituting the chief trade between this
country and France. The particular ad-
vantages secured 10y the United States
are on meat products and lard COM
pounds. France reducing her rates one
half IN the first and about one third on
the latter The chief benefits TO France
are i'm reduction i'm rates on brandies'
stilled winese, yeTmuth and works OF ART.
There is no reduction IN the rate on
cbampagnes. although the Dngley law
contemplated d reciprocity reduction on
champagnes in case concessions were
given. a..
by the terms of the agreement tho
new rates go into effect on June lst OF
next Wednesday
The conclusion OF the agreement IS
source of general congratuiatlon among
the offlciais of the State Department ana
of the French embassy. Several reciproc-
itv NEGOTIATIONS have been in progress,
and 30 WAS thought those with Great
Britain we're likely 10 Doe concluded hrst.
The French negotiations began iast &c
toher. when NJ Patenotre was the rehch
Ambassador here. 10 soon developed, now
ever. mat the United states expected
much larger concessions. particularly -
rreaf PRODUCTS than NJ Patenotre was
ready 90 WELD NJ Cambon. formerly
Covernor-Gcncral of Algiers. and regard
ed as one OF the most capable diplomatic
officials in the French service. leSuiheu
the work when he succeeded NJ. fateho-
ire who was promoted 10 the MduIlu
mission and. acting under INSTRUCTIONS
from Paris. concessions were maze WIllch
allowed the two governments 10 conie
fopefhcr IL was "a matter OF no niue
eurorieo that the arrangement was CON
.l1ded M the present time when the war
eroergencv compelled this government 10
look for every possible recourse Tor reVe-
nue.. and when there was concentration
az official attonti-& ON measures relating
directly 10 the war.
FRENCH GOODWILL.
Aside from the tariff changes maze py
the new agreement the convention Is re-
rareod as significant as showing tho good
v.iu existing between the United States
and France. In official circles there never
mas been any question as 10 tho continued
cordialitv between the two countries, hut
I'M unofficial quarters there have been re-
norris OF friction. 10 is believed That the
agreement win serve to dispel misappre-
tensions as To- the satisfactory relations
between the two governments ana mat
II will be quite as beneficial I'm increasing
the good will between the two republics
as the trade The benefit Of the French
minimum tariff which is granted TO vari-
Gus products of the soil and industry OF
the United States is especially advania-
geous o. western industries.
As n result of these concessions II Is
believed among officials that the agree
ment viii have beneficial influence In
increasing the interest and cooperation
OF the west and the country i'm general
in the French Exposition Of 1900
THE AGREEMENT.
The agreement in detail grants the fol-
lowing concessions on American pro-
ducts: manufactured meats. prepared
from pork. 90 francs per 100 hlos I'm lieu
of the regular rate of 100 francs; lard and
It's compounds. 20 francs per 100 hlos In
lieu uf 40 francs The French minimum
rate is also continued on table fruit, can
med meats. dried or pressed fruits, COM
mon woods. paving blocks, slaves, hops
apples. and pears. crushed and dried.
These minimum rates were originally Sc
cured by Ambassador Whitelaw Reid, but.
they were about 90 be discontinued FOR
the maximum rates. The concessions
allowed TO France are as follows: argOts,
F0 per cent. ad valorem. I'm lieu of TO
8 cents per pound: brandes and other
spirits 81 LIS per gallon in lieu Of $2.25 per
gallon. stan wine and vermuth 80 cents
per gallon I'm lieu Of 40 and 50 cents per
gallon. paintings. statuary and works Of
art De- per cent. ad valOrem in lieu ~
per cent. ad valorem. The reciprocity
reduction from s. 90 50 per dozen on cham
payne per dozen quarts. ~ contemplated
by the law. rs not concluded IN the agree
ment Lt