The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-07-25
Has Been Under Discus
sion Two Years.
WIN Be of Great Advantage to
American Manufacturers.

Washington. July 24.-The long pend
Ing reciprocity negotiations bstwss n the
United States and France we're brought
to successfui close at the state depart
ment late this afternoon when Ambassa-
dor Cambon. in behalf Of France. and
Commissioner Kasson. In behalf OF the
United States, sffi xed their signatures to
the treaty.
Il is by far the most Important treaty
concluded under the reciprocity provisions
of the Dinglsy law and the only one
affecting the trade with a large CONNER
cial nation. Ihe negotiations were
marked ty rather sharp ana long contin-
ued discussions which continued to the
time the signatures were placld tn the
documents. In the end a spirit Of conn.,
promise prevailed aud each side yield ed
something. AS whole both sides ex-
pressed satisfaction with the general
results secured, for while the compromise
nesessitated some minor sacrifices, the
general etfect OF the treaty viii encourage
commerce between the two countries.
The concessions granted by France en-
braesd most Of the articles In what Is
known az the French minimum tariff.
This comprises Ga heads. the rates bein q
on an average Of about 90 per cent below
those In the general tariff Of France. II
was found necessary, however, owing to
protests from French agrarian interests
to except from this minimum list about
"a articles, chiefly agricultural products
ahe French ministry was Obliged TO pay
heed to this sentiIE sLt aud in turn al.
of closing tbs treaty. IL was on his point
that the negotiations were In doubs for
several days. and 10 was only by compro-
misirg on the exceptions that an agree
meut was made possible. AS first pre-
sented the exceptions numbered y, but
some Of these were olassed including q
number of distinct itesus. so that In ali
there was large number of exceptions.
AS finally deter rmined upon, these exosp-
tions were narrowed down to 81 and out
side of them the United States gets the
benefit of all the reductions on the French
minimum list.
Besides the reductions given to this
governments, the treaty Is important in
continuing ON q mum ber Of articles mini
mum rates which would have been
abolished IL the treaty had not been con-
cluded. The most Important OF those ar
ticles sre petroleum and mineral oils. At
DfcetIb bH6oo Qtls tutoE RIduC6 Oh tut
minimum rate, but had todsy's treaty
failed rate would have besn imposed
making q difference of duty amounting
to about IS, 100000 The same Is true as
to cotton which is one of the chief articles
of shipment from the United States to
France and entsrs duty-free. Had the
treaty failed a heavy duty would have
been imposed on American cotton. The
same Is true of copper, rubber and many
classes of machinery. France Sc oure6
important concessions on over ona hun
dred Of the chief products sent by France
TO this country. The Dingley law allows
not to exceed twenty per cent reduction
twenty per cent is not allowed ON all arti-
cles covered by the treaty. On some of
them the reduction Is i've per cent, on
othars fifteen and up to twenty per cent
The list would have been larger and the
percentage of reduction greater In some
cases, had is not been for the reluctance
of Commissioner Cass0n to permit exca p
tions from the French minimum list.
This was the main cause leading to the
omission of champagne from the list of
important, French products included In
the treaty. While quite desirous of secur-
ing a reduction Of duty on this class of
wines, the French authorities were not
ready to grant the large number cf redHc-
tions asked for as an Offset for the
proposed reduction on this particular ar
tiole. As a result the regular rates Will
be maintained on sparkling wines coming
to this 90 1ntry.
The treaty will result 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 minimum of the
French rate while the American golds
with few exceptions have had to pay the
maximum rate. The negotiations end I'd
today were begun two years ago by NJ.
Patrenotre, then ambassador from France.
When he was succeeded by NJ. CAmbon,
the latter took up the negotiations and
for time there was prospect for oonclud-
ing treaty, bat delays occurred and In
order to close the matter the French au-
thorities sent from Paris III. Uharpentiers.
a trade expert, as special reciprocity dele
gate. Ambassador Cambon will leave
for Paris in about week carrying with
him the French draft of the treaty.
The French treaty is the last OF the
instruments of this kind and the treaty
work under the Dingley act Is now
brought to lose. Six treaties have been
made. ell save that with France relating
to British West indies.