The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-25
Dispute Over Petroleum and Mineral
Oils, Amounting to $5,OOO,OOO,
Caused Long Delay.
At THE PEACE CONFERENCE
FINAL ACT OF THE DELEGATES FOR
INFLATED INTO RESOLUTIONS.
Three Conventions Recommended for
CONFEDERATION OF Vital Interna-
tiOnaI Questions.

WASHINGTON, July 24.-The long-pend-
ing reciprocity treaty negotiations between
the United States and France were brought
to successful close at the State Depart
ment late this afternoon when Ambassador
Cambon, in behalf Of France. and Commits
sioner Kasson, in behalf of the United
States. affixed their signatures to the reci-
procity treaty. 1t is by far the most i'm
portant treaty concluded under the reci-
proclty provisions of the Dingley law and
the only one affecting the trade with large
commercial nation. The negotiations were
marked by rather sharp and long discus
sions. which continued up to the time the
signatures were placed on the documents.
In the end spirit of compromise prevailed
and each side yielded something. AS a
whole both sides express satisfaction with
the general results secured, for, while the
compromise necessitated some minor sacri-
fees. the general effect of the treaty will
encoura ge commerce between the two coun-
tries.
The concessions granted by France en-
| braced most of the articles in what is known
as the French minimum tariff This COM
prises GA heads, the rates being on an aver
age about 20 per cent. below those in the
general tariff of France. 1t was found neces-
sary, however, owing to protests from
French agrarian interests. to except from
this minimum list about twenty-four arti-
Giles. chiefly agricultural products. The
French Ministry was obliged to pay heed
to this sentiment and, In turn, M. Cambon
made the exceptions condition of closing
the treaty. 1t was on this point that the
negotiations were in doubt for several days
and it was only by compromising on the
extent of the exceptions that an agreement
was made possible. AS first presented, the
exceptions numbered twelve, but some of
these were classes including a number of
distinct items, SO that, in all, there were
large number 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 coun-
try the treaty is important in continuing
number of minimum rates which would have
been abolished If the treaty had not been
concluded. The most important of these
| articles are petroleum and mineral oils. At
present these oils enter France on the min
imum rate. but had to-day's treaty failed a
rate would have been imposed making
| difference of duty amounting to about S.
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 on American
cotton. The same is true OF copper, rubber
and many classes of machinery. France Sc
cures important concessions on over one
hundred of the chief products sent by
France to this country. The Dingley law al
lows not to exceed 20 per cent reductions as
| basis of reciprocity, but the full 20 per
cent is not allowed on all the articles COW
| cred by the treaty. On some of them the re-
ductiou is per cent, on others 10, others
Is and up to 20 per cent The list would
have been larger and the percentage of re-
| duction greater in some cases had it not been
for the reluctance of Commissioner Kasson
to permit exceptions from the French min
imum list. This was the main cause lead
ing to the omission of champagne from the
list OF important French products included
in the treaty. While quite DESTROYS of Sc
curing reduction of duty on this class OF
wines. the French authorities were not ready
| to grant the large number of reductions
asked as an offset for the proposed reduction
| on this particular article. AS a result the
regular rates will be maintained on spark
ling wines coming TO this country.
The treaty will result N placing the prod
| ucts Of the United States On the same basis
In France as products of Great Britain and
Germany. AT present these countries have
the minimum French rate. while the Amer
lean goods. with few excel tions, have had
to pay the maximum rate.
The negotiations ended to-day were begun
| nearly two years ago by NJ. Patenotre, then
| ambassador from France. When he was
succeeded by N. Cambon, the latter took up
the negotiations and for time there was
prospects of concluding a treaty. but delays
| occurred. and in order to close the matter
the French authorities sent from Paris M.
Charpentier. a trade expert, as special reel
procity delegate.
Ambassador Cambon will leave for Paris
in about a 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 Ding
ley act Is now brought to a close. Six
treaties have been made. all save that with
France relating TO British West India