The evening times., 1899-03-15
REciPRoc1TY TREATIES.
Negotiations with France nnd Ger
Is many Resumed.

rFance nhO UcE-
Ie many Resumed.
Negotiations for reciprocity treaties with
Germany and France have been resumed
and there is still a prospect that treaty
may be negotiated with Great Britain COW
ering the British West Indies. Negotia-
tions were interrupted some months ago by
Mr. kasson, our reciprocity commissioner,
who was obliged to give his attention to
the work OF the Anglo-American Commis
sion. AS thisdwork is closed, Mr.. kasson
is free to resume the negotiations with the
other countries, and he has written to
their diplomatic representatives to inform
them that he is at liberty to proceed.
In the case of France, Ambassador Cam
bon returns from Paris with the earnest
hope of carrying through treaty under
the Dingley law. On the part Of France
it is proposed to give to the United States
their minimum tariff list. The French
tariff has two rates-a maximum and
minimum. The difference averages about
25 per cent. Countries specially favored
by France get the minimum rate, while
those having no arrangement pay the max
mum rates per cent higher. The effect
Of this is to place higher duties on Amerf-
can goods than on those of England, Ger
many, Russia, and some thirty-one coun-
cial arrangements.
In the negotiations with Mr.. Kasson this
minimum rate is conceded the only ques
tion being as to what the United States
will grant in return. The law permits u
20 per cent reduction of duty on designated
articles, but an arrangement has not been
reached as to what these articles shall be.
The French contention is that the list
should be liberal as their minimum list
the eptira tariff IiSf ThaV also
tend that the average of French duty on
American goods is about ii per cent ad va
loren, as against about 80 per cent Ameri-
can duty on French goods. NJ. Cambon is
awaiting further information from Paris,
and ii is expected that active negotiations
will proceed in about two weeks
The German negotiations have been re-
sumed on a rather broad scale. They be-
gan over a year ago on strict CONNER
cial basis and made no progress, owing TO
Germany's course in certain public matters.
Recently, however, Germany has given un-
mistakable evidence Of good viii. AS a
result the officials have shown a disposi-
tion to give more attention 10 Germany S
views of reciprocity and the subject is be-
ing considered in its general features. The
scope of the negotiations is shown In the
fact that Secretary Hay himself is conduct
| ing them, the detailed work on schedules
| not having been taken up yet by Mr.. Kas-
son. The Germans express the hope that
q treaty will result within the next three
months.
| The British negotiations reached an ad-
! vanced stage and then collapsed entirely.
| They were managed by Sir Julian Paunce-
| fote and Mr.. kasson, who together out
| lined the articles to be covered by the pro-
| posed treaty. The document was about
/ ready to sign lest summer, when the Lon
| don authorities made a statement that
| tley were considering the adyisabilty OF
/ granting eountervailing duties TO the sugar
! producers of the British West Indies. after
! the American practice. This put OFF the
| reciprocity treaty. for if the imperial gov
ernment gave countervailing duties there
! was not the same need OF a reciprocity ar
rangement.
The imperial government has done moth
! ing. however in regard to countervailng
| duties, and the West Indian colonies have
received neither the benefit OF the duties
! or of the reciprocity treaty. II Sir Julian
+ goes to the Cars disarmament congress
at The Hague in May. he is not likely 10
| conclude the reciprocity negotiations be-
/ fore he goes, and after that the two-year
period for negotiating reciprocity treaties
under the Dingley bill will have expired.
The early expiration of this period is
! causing all foreign countries TO hasten
/ their negotiations. The Dingley law pro-
vides that the President shall have author
ity for two years from the date when the
! law became operative July %, 1890 10
make reciprocity treaties. etc. little
mere than three months remain to COM
plete treaties under this law It is said.
however. that if they fail of completion
within that time. it will not necessarily
end all the negotiations. as the President
still has the constitutional right indepeni-
ent of this specific law, to negotiate treat
/ les by and with the consent of the Senate
! II deemed advantageous. this constitutional
authority will be exercised, even after July
! q next.