The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-06-04
FRANCE THE FIRST.
Concludes Reciprocal Arrangements
with Uncle Sam.
LONG PENDING NEGOTIATIONS ENDED,
Result In a CONNIE rcinl Agreement
Under Section y Of the Dinglcy
Tariff Law Each Coun-
try IL Benefited.

Washington. May 3l.-The United
States and France have concluded the
first commercial agreement entered
into under Secticn III Of the Dingley
tariff law. The negotiations have been
pending for the last eight months, and
after many vicissitudes were concluded
on Saturday last when Ambassador
Cambon, in behalf of France, and Hon.
John Kasson, reciprocity commissioner
for the United States, affixed their sig
natures to the formal agreement. 1t
makes important changes in the tariff
rates on a number of articles constitute
ing the chief trade between this conn-
Try and France. The particular adj
vantages secured by the United States
are on meat products and lard COM
pounds, France reducing her rates one
half on meat products and about one
third on lard compounds. The chief
benefits to France are In reduction in
rates on brandies. stlled wine, vermuth
and works Of art. There is no reduction
In the rate on champagnes. although
the Dingley law contemplated reci-
procty reduction on chnmpagnes in
case mutual concessions were given.
luke Effect at Once.
by the terms of the agreement the
new rates go into effect on June /, or
next Wednesday. In the meantime,
under the terms Of the law, the presi-
dent will issue proclamation grant
ing the reciprocal reductions specified
IN tina
the French authorities at Puris will de-
cree reduction In the French rates In
accordance with the agreement.
History of the Negotiations.
The conclusion Of the agreement is a
source Of general congratulaton among
the officials Of the state department and
OF the French embassy. Several recl-
procity negotiations have been in prog.
ress. aud it wns thought those with
Great Britain were likely to be con.
cluded first. The French negotiations
begun last October, when NJ. Pntenotre
was the French ambassador here. 1t
soon developed, however, that the
United States expected much larger
concessions, particularly on meat prod
ucts, than NJ. Pntenotrc WINS ready to
yield. NJ. Camhon, formerly governor,
general OF Algiers and regarded us ono
OF the most capable diplomatic officials
In the French service, when he sue
cceded NJ. Pntenotre, resumed tho work,
acting under instructions from Paris,
Concessions were made which allowed
the two governments to come together.
1t waSa matter of no little surprise thnt
the arrangement WAS concluded Mt tho
present time, when the war emergency
compelled this government to look for
every possible resource for revenue, and
when there was concentration of off,
rectly to the war.
Significant OF Good WILL
Aside from the tariff changes made
by the new agreement, the convention
IS regarded US significant in showing
the good will existing between the
United States and France. In official
circles there never hns been rny rues,
ton MS to the continued cordially be-
tween the two countries, but In unotli.
cial quarters there have been reports Of
friction. 1t is believed that the agree,
ment will serve to d1spel misnpprchcn,
sions as to the satisfactory relations DO.
tween tho two governments, aud that
twill be quite as beneficial In increasing
the good will between tho two repub.
lies as the trade. Tho benefit of tho
French minimum tariff which is grant,
ed to various products Of the soil and
industry Of the United States, is cspe-
cially advantageous to western indus
tries, including the large meat packing
Industries Of Chicago. Kansas City,
Omaha and St. Louis. As Il result Of
these concessions 1t Is believed among
officials that the agreement will have u
beneficial influence in increasing the
interest and cooperation of the west
and the country in general In the
French exposition of 1900.
Negotiations with Cunnsin
Washington. May a1.--'rhe Canadian
negotiations, which hnve,bccn in prog
ress here for the last week, were con-
cluded Monday night, when definite
agreement was reached for the creation
of commission which shall consider I'LL
the subjects Of controversy between tho
United States and Canadn, and frame
trcnty between the imperial goverr-
mcnt and The United States for the
complete adjustment of their contro-
versies. The agreement is now to be
submitted to the British government
for Its approval, and when this Is given
the organization of the commission will
be completed. For the present tho
agreement Is confined to one point, that
the commission shall be created, tho
time and place for the commission to
begin Its work being left for future
determination. 1t is understood, how
ever, that the first meeting will be held
at Quebec, probably during the com
ing summer. The membership OF the
commission will be determined by the
executive branches Of the two govern
mcnts The questions involved include
the Behring sea, North Atlantic and
lake fisheries, border immigration,
reciprocity, mining regulations in the
Klondlke and British North American
possessions, and also the determination
OF the Alaskan boundary line.
Postponed.