The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03

Island n in various states. The 49,
900 volunteers under the recently is
sued second call constitute still another
reserve which, however, is yet to be or
ganized and equipped.
General Shafter will be in immediate
command of the forces now embark
ing, while General Miles will have gen-
eral supervision Of these and all other
military movements.
GENERAL MILES GOES TO TAMPA
Major General Nelson A. Miles, COM
handing the United States army, ac-
cOmpanied by the members Of his fam
| lily and his personal and official staff,
left at IL o'clock tonight for Tampa,
Fla The party, comprising thirty
four persons, occupied a special train
on the Southern railroad. No demon
stration Of any kind occurred as the
distinguished party took its leave.
General Miles will proceed directly
to Tampa, Where he will establish
temporarily the headquarters of the
army. he will personally direct the
movements Of the troops and the inva-
sion Of Cuba.
Following is the personnel OF the
party which left tonight: General
Miles, Mrs. Miles, Miss Miles and Sher-
man Miles; General Rogers, General
Stone, Colonel Maus, Colonel Michael
I er, Colonel OsSood, Major DAILY, chief
surgeon; Major Seyburn, Major Davis.
Captain Alger, Lieutenant Rowan,
Lieutenant Parker and Lieutenant
T~OWnsley. Genera CollazO and Colonel
Hernandez, of the Cuban army, We're
Of the party, as were also four privates
Of the Sixth cavalry, who will act as
OrderlieS, and eleven secretaries and
+ clerks.
RECIPROCITY TREATY WITH
FRANCE.
The United States and France have
concluded the first commercial agree
ment entered into under section ) of
the Dingley tariff. The negotiations
have been pending for the last eight
months and after many vissitudeS
were concluded on Saturday last, when
Ambassador CamibOn, in behalf of
France, and the Hon. John A. Kasson,
reciprocity commissioner for the Unit
ed States, affixed their signatures to
the formal agreement. The president
today issued a proclamation granting
the reciprocal reductions specified.
The French authorities will also de-
cree a reduction in the French rates
in accordance with the agreement.
The agreement makes important
changes in the tariff rates OIL a num-
Der of articles constituting the chief
trade between this country and
France. The particular advantages Sc
cured by the United States are on
meat products and lard compounds,
France reducing her rates ne-halfg
on the former and about One-third on
the latter. The chief benefits to France
, are in reduction in rates on brandies,
stilled wines, vermuth n works OF
art. There is no reduction in the rate
on champagnes, although the Dingley
law contemplated a reciprocity reduc-
tion On champagnes in case mutual
concessions were given. By the terms
| of the agreement the new rates go into
effect on June LIST, next Wednesday.
The conclusion of the agreement is
a source of general congratulatiOr
among the officials of the state depart
ment and of the French embassy. Sew
eral reciprocity negotiations have beer
in progress and it was thought those
with great Britain were likely to 'be
concluded first. The French negotia-
tions began last October when M. Pat,
enotre was the French Ambassador
here. 1t soon developed. however
that the United States expected muct
larger concessions, particularly or
meat products, han M. Patenotre was
ready to yield. M. Cambon, formerly
governor general of Algiers, and re
garded as one of the most capable di
plOmatlc O1lClaIS IN the TeTcn service
esumed the work when he succeeded
M. PatenOtre, wrO was promoted tt
the Madrid mission, and, acting under
instruction. from Paris, concession:
were made which allowed the two gov
rnmen to come together. 1t was E
matter of no little surprise that thu
arrangement was concluded at the
present time when the war emergency
compelled this government to look fol
very possible ecour for revenue anc
when there was a concentration or OF
fetal attention on measures relating
directly to the wax.
Aside from the tariff changes mad
by the new agreement, the convention
is regarded as significant in showing
the good will existing between tn
United States and France. In officia
circles there never has been any ques'
ton as 10 the continued cordiality be
tween the two countries, but IN un'
official quarters there have been re
ports of friction. It is believed tina
the agreement will serve to dispel mis-
a~pprehensions as TO the sa~tisfactor!
relations between the two govern
meQtJ,