The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-25
CLOSED THE FRENCH TREATY.
AMERICA AND FRANCE TO EN-
CHANGE AT LOWER RATES.

Reciprocity Negotiations Have Been
Brought to IA CIOse-Thnt with
France by Far the Most Important
Treaty Concluded Under the Ding
ley BDI-Many Concessions Grant
ed by Each COuntry-AgricuItu
Products Excepted by France.
Washington, July 24-The long-pending
reciprocity treaty negotiations between
the United States and France were
brought to a successful close at the state
department late this afternoon when Am
bassador Cambon, In behalf of France,
and Commissioner Kasson, in behalf OF
the United States. affixed their signatures
to the treaty.
1t is by far the most important treaty
concluded under the reciprocity provisions
of the Dmgley law. The negotiations
We're marked by rather sharp and long
continued discussions, which continued up
TO the time the signatures We're placed
on the document. In the end spirit of
compromise prevailed and each side yield
ed something. AS a whole, both sides
express satisfaction with the general re-
suits secured. for, while the compromise
necessitated some minor sacrifices, the
general effect of the treaty will encourage
commerce between the two countries.
The concessions granted by France en-
braoed most of the articles in what is
known as the French minimum tariff
This comprises GA heads the rates being
on an average about 20 per cent. below
those in the general tariff of France. It
was found necessary, however, owing to
protests from French agrarian interests,
to except from this minimum list about
twenty articles, chiefly agricultural
products. The French ministry was
obliged to pay heed to this sentiment, and,
in turn. NJ. Cambon made the exceptions
a condition of closing the treaty. 1t was
on this point that the negotiations con-
tinued for several days, and 1t was only
by compromising on the extent of the ex-
ceptions that an agreement was made
possible.
Minimum Rates Hold.
Besides the reductions given to this
country, the treaty is important in con
tinuing a number of minimum rates
which would have been abolished if ii
had not been concluded The most i'm
portant of these articles are petroleum
and mineral oils. Al present these oils
enter France on the minimum rate, but
had to-day's treaty failed rate would
have been imposed making a difference of
duty amounting to about 100000 The
same is true as to cotton, which is one
Of the chief articles of shipment from the
United States TO France and enters duty
4 ba iol
would have been imposed upon American
cotton. The same is true of copper. rub
ber, and many classes of machinery
France secures important concessions on
over 100 of the chief products sent by the
French 10 this country. The Dingey law
allows not to exceed 20 per cent. reduction
as a basis of reciprocity, but the fun 20
per cent, is not allowed on all the articles
covered by the treaty. on some of them
the reduction is per cent, on others 10,
and others 10 and up TO 20 per cent.
The list would have been larger and the
percentage of reduction greater in some
cases had 1t not been for the reluctance of
Commissioner Kasen to permit exceptions
from the French minimum list This was
the main cause leading up to the omission
of champagne from the list of important
French productions included in the treaty
While quite desrous of securing a reduc-
tion of the duty on this class OF wines
the French authorities were not
ready to grant The large number Of reduc-
tions asked as an offset for the proposed
reduction on this particular article. As
a result, the regular rates will be main
tanned on sparkling wines coming to this
country.
The treaty viii result in placing the pro-
ducts of the United States on the same ba-
sis In France as products of Great Britain
and Germany. At present these coun tries
have the minimum French rate while the
American goods, with few exceptions, have
had TO pay the maximum rate.
The negotiations ended to-day were be-
gun neary two years ago by M. Pateno-
ire then ambassador from France The
French treaty is the last of the instru-
ments of this kind and the treaty work
under the Dingley act IS now brought to
close. SIX treaties have been made
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