New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-21
FRANCO-A AMERICAN TREATY.
SUBMITTED TO THE FRENCH PARLlA'
MENT FOR APPROVAL.
BENEFITS TO EACH REPUBLIC POINTED OUT
A GREAT GAIN FOR FRANCE
CLAIMED.

Paris. Dec 20-A bill submitting the Franco
American reciprocity treaty to the approval of
the French Parliament was introduced to-day In
the Chamber OF Deputies. The Government In
an elaborate preamble makes point OF setting
forth the kindly disposition of the American
Government which has enabled the negotiations
to be brought TO a successful conclusion and
expatlates upon the great stimulus the, treaty
will give to commerce between the two countries.
The preamble goes on to explain that the
treaty is the result of two years work. 1t says
that while pressed to retaliate against the re-
strctons OF the Dingley tariff. the Government
deemed a resort to diplomacy preferable. In view
OF "our traditional sympathes for the Republic
OF the United States and due consideration for
our true economic interests"
1t then recapitulates the main points OF the
provisional arrangement OF May ;. 1898, which
opened the way for further negotiations, as
French imports into the United States, relieved
from the tariff, increased so per cent
Such American productions as cast iron.
leather articles and machine tools. 'in which
American manufacturers possess distinct su-
periority and which constitute a danger 10
French industry" are. the preamble points out,
still excluded from the minimum tariff. More
over agricultural and cattle products are SIM
ilarly excluded "in order to protect the french
from formidable American competition"
This result" says the preamble. rs all the
more important because Mr.. Kasson made press
ing demands on behalf of American agriculture.
The French Ambassador was not only able 10
resist them. but even obtained useful reductions
in favor of French agricultural products ex-
ported to the United States, such as olive OIL ana
preserved vegetables
After pointing out that France under the
treaty obtains the unique concession Of favored
nation treatment. and describing this as "a
peculiarly gracious concession" the preamble
compares the respective advantages gained by
the contracting parties. saying:
Only per cent OF American products value
25W0WO francs. benefit the American gar,
being OF 40 francs annually; willie over o3
per cent OF French products value lo6,94oOp
francs. benefit the French gain being o.2l9'29i
francs annually.
After particularly calling attention to the i'm
portant fact that the concessions obtained by
France are exclusive and should tremendously
increase French exports while. at the same
time. the treaty is so arranged as to preyent an
American invasion Of French markets. the pre-
amble concludes follows:
The Government at the White House In sign
ing with US this treaty. have shown their desire
TO reserve to French commerce the first fruits
OF the tariff concessions which the Dingley bill
authorized to be granted TO foreign Powers.
This action gives the treaty a value It would
be Impossible to misunderstand and makes this
document work which should draw closer a,
the same time the economic relations OF the
two peoples and the political afiinities OF the
two republics,