The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-25
TREATY WITH FRANCE.
Which Makes Large Reductions In
Tariff Duties


Washington, July 25.-The long pend
ing reciprocity treaty negotiations be
tween the United States and France
has been brought to a successful close.
1t is by far the most important treaty
concluded under the reciprocity proVls-
dons of the Dingley law and the only
one affecting the trade with large
commercial nation. The negotiations
were marked by rather sharp and long
continued discussions which lasted up
to the time the signatures were placed
on the document. In the end spirit
of compromise prevailed and each side
yielded something. As a whole DOth
sides express satisfaction with the gen
eral results secured for while the com
promise necess1tated some minor sac
Tifices, the general effect of the treaty
will encourage commerce between the
two countries. The concessions granted
by France embraced most of the artlc-
les 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 in France. It was found
necessary, however, owing to protests
nom French agrarian interests to eX-
cept from this minimum list about "a
articles chiefly agricultural products.
The French uninistery was obliged to
pay heed to this sentiment, and IN turn
NJ. CambOn made the exceptions con-
ditfOn Of closing the treaty. 1t was on
this point that the negotiations were
in doubt for several days and it was on
" by compromising on the extent of
the exceptions that an agreement
was made possible. At first pre-
scented. the exceptions numbered II, but
some of these were classes including
numb Der of distinct items, so that in all
there were a large number of excep-
tions. AS finally determined upon these
exceptions We're narrowed down to "A
and outside of them, the United states
gets the benefit of all the reductions on
the French minimum list
reductions
country the treaty is important IN con
tinuing a numb of minor rates which
would have been abolished if the treaty
had not been concluded. The most i'm
pOrtant of these articles are petroleum
and mineral oils. At present these oils
enter France on the minimum rate, put
had the treaty failed, rate would have
been imposed making a difference of
duty amounting to about $4,000, OOO- 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 free. Had the treaty failed,
heavy duty would have been imposed
upon American cotton. The same is
true of copper, rubber and many classes
of machinery. France secures import
ant concessions on over 100 of the chief
products sent by France to this coun-
try.
The DingIey law allows not to exceed
20 per cent reduction as a basis of re
CiprOcity but the full 20 per cent is not
allowed on all the articles covered by
the treaty. on some OF IneIn, the re-
duction is per cent, on others 10 per
cent. others Is and up to 20 per cent
The list would have been larger and the
per centage of reduction greater in
some cases, had it not been for the
reluctance of Commissioner Kasson to
permit exceptions from the French
minimum list This was the main cause
leading to the omission of champagne
from the list of important French pro-
ducts, included in the treaty. While
quite DESTROYS of securing 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 re
duction on this particular article as a
result the regular rates will be main
tanned on sparkling wines coming to
this country.
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 pres
ent these countries have the minimum
French rate, while the American goods
with few exceptions have had to pay
the maximum rate.
The negotiations We're begun nearly
two years ago by NJ. PatenOtre. then
ambassador from France. When he was
succeeded by NJ CambOn, the latter
took up the negotiations and for time
there was prospect of concluding a
treaty, but delays occurred. and in or
der to close the matter the French
authorities sent from Paris NJ. Charpin-
tere a trade expert as special reciproc-
ity delegate ambassador CambOn Will
leave for Paris in about a week, car
rying with him the French draft of the
treaty.
The French treaty is the last of the
instruments of the kind and the treaty
work under the Dingley act is now
brought to a close. Six treaties have
been made all save that with France
relating to British West India islands.