Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-07-27
IT IS A COMPROMISE.
Reciprocity Dreaty Between the
United States and France Signed.
BOTH SIDES YIELDED SOMETHING.
Uho TREATY Was Concluded Under the
Reciprocity Provisions Of the
DIngley Tariff Lnw-lS
Terms Outlined,

Washington, July 25,-1'he long
pending reciprocity treaty negotla'
lions between the United States and
France were brought 10 q successful
close at the state department late
Monday afternoon, when Ambassador
CamlDon, in behalf Of France, and
Commissioner Aasson, an behalf OF
4he United States, affixed their sigma
lures to the reciprocity Teaty 1T Is
by far THE most importanc treaty con.
cluded under THE RECIPROCITY provls-
ions OF the Dingley law, and the only
one affecting the trade with large
commercial nation,
The negotiations were marked by
rather sharp and long continued dis.
cuSslons which continued up to the
time the signatures were placed on
the document. In the end, a spirit of
compromise prevailed and each side
yielded something, As IA whole, both
sides express satisfaction with the
general results secured, for, while the
compromise necessitated some minor
sacrifices, the general effect of the
tween the two countries,
The concessions granted by France
embraced most OF the articles in
what Is known as the French mini
mum tariff, Thus compromises GA
heads, the rates being on an average
about 20 per cent below those in the
general tariff Of France. II was
found necessary, however, owing to
protests from French agrarian inter-
ests, to except from this minimum
list about twenty-four articles, chiefly
agricultural products. The French
ministry was obliged to pay heed to
this sentiment, and, in turn, NJ. Cam
bon made the exceptions condition
OF closing the treaty, 1t was on this
point that the negotiations were in
doubt for several days, and 1t was
only by compromising on the extent
of the exceptions that I'M agreement
was made possible. As first present
ed, the exceptions numbered twelve,
but some Of those were classes includ.
ing number of distinct items, so
that, in all, there were large num-
Der OF exceptions. AS finally deter
mined upon, these exceptions were
narrowed down to twenty-four and,
outside of them, the United States
gets The benefit OF all the reductions
on the French minimum list.
Besides the reductions given to this
country the treaty is important in
continuing number OF minimum
rates which would have been abolish
ed IL the treaty had not been con-
'cluded. The most important of these
articles are petroleum and mineral
oils. At present, these oils enter
France on the minimum rate, but had
mondays treaty failed, a rate would
have been imposed making differ.
ence OF duty amounting to about S..
100000. The same is true as to cot
ton, which is one of the chief articles
OF shipment from the United States
to France, and enters duty free. Had
the treaty failed, a heavy duty would
have been imposed upon American
cotton The same Is true of copper,
rubber and many classes off machin-
cry,
France secures important conces.
ATOMS on over 100 of the chief products
sent by France to this country. The
Dingley law allows not 10 exceed 90
per cent reduction as basis of re.
eiprocity, but the full 20 per cent is
not allowed on all the articles GOV.
cred by the treaty. On some of them,
the reduction is 5 per Gent, on others
~ per cent, on others Is and up TO
20 per cent. The hist would have been
larger, and the percentage of reduc-
ton greater in some cases, had it not
been FOR the reluctance of Commits.
sloner kasSon to permit exceptions
from the French minimum list. Mis-
was the main cause leading to the
omission Of champagne from the list
OF important French products in
cluded IN the treaty. While quite de-
sirous OF securing a reduction OF duty
on this class of wines, the French au.
thorities were not ready to grant the
large number Of reductions asked as
an offset for the proposed reduction
on this particular article. AS a re
suit, the regular rates will be main
talned on sparkling wines coming to
this country.
The treaty will GesuIt in placing
the products of the United States on
the same basis in France as products
OF Great Britain and Germany. AT
present, these countries have the min
imum French rate, while the Amer
tcan goods, with few exceptions, have
had to pay the maximum rate.
The negotiations, ended Monday,
were begun early two years ago by
M Phtenotre, then ambassador from
France. When he was succeeded by
NJ Oambon, the latter took up the ne
gotiatdons, and for time there was
prospect of concluding a treaty, blu.
delays occurred, and, in order to
close the matter, the French authori
ties sent from Paris NJ Charpentier,
a trade expert, as special reciprocity
delegate.
Ambassador Cambon will leave for
Paris in about week carrying with
him the French draft of the treaty.. :