Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-07-27
Reciprocity Convention Sign
ed at Washington After
Tedious Negotiations.
DOCUMENT is IMPORTANT
NIillions Likely to BE Added to Amer
lean Commerce-United States Pro-
cures All Benefits OF Minimum
Rates Of Sister Republic.

Washington, July PA great treaty
that will add millions to American
commerce was stoned here yesterday
afternoon. It.'is the reciprocity com
pact with France, which has so long
been in dispute, and which at times.
threatened to end in a disagreement.
Wise counsels, however. prevailed, con-
cessions were made on Doth sides and
the signatures of Ambassador Cambon
and of Commissioner Kasson conclud-
ed an agreement that will rebound to
the benefit of both France and the
United States.
The diplomatic correspondence over
the pact so happily concluded has
been continued at intervals for nearly
two years. The same interests had to
be. guarded both here and in France.
1t was the agriculturists of the CALI
can republic that fought mainly
against the proposals of the United
States, and IT was chiefly The farming
interests of this country that Mr.. Kas.
son had to safeguard.
Not later than last Saturday, in a
cabinet meeting in Paris. NJ. Millerand,
the. minister of agriculture, gave assur>
ances to his confreres that the French
farmers should nai suffer in the trsse.s
then nearing completion here, and per-
sons I'M position to know declare that
Ambassador Cambon has made a close
bafgain for his countrymen.
The treaty signed is by far the most
important treaty concluded nnder the
reciprocity provisions of the Dingley
law3and the only onee affecting the
trade with a large commercial nation.
The,negotiations,w marked by path-
err sharp discussions, which continued
up to the time the signatures, were
placed on the document. But as q
whole both sides express satisfaction
with the general results secured. for
while the compromises necessitated
some minor sacrifices the general effect
of the. treaty will encourage trade be-
tween HE two countries.
The concessions GRANTED by France
embraced most of the articles
In what lis known as the French mini
mum tariff. This comprises GA heads,
the rates being on an average about 20
per cent below those in the general
tariff on France. 1t was found neces-
sary, however, owing to protests from
French agrarian interests, to except
from this minimum list about twenty
i four articles, chiefly agricultural prod
ucts. The French ministry was oblig-
edsto pay heed to this sentiment, and
inSturn NJ. Cambon made the excep-
tons a condition ofsclosing the treaty.
Htwas on this point that the nego-
tiatipns We're in doubt for several days,
and 1T was only by compromising on
thef extent of the exceptions that an
agreement was made possible
As first presented the exceptions
numbered twelve but some of these
were classes including number OF
distinct items. SO that in all there
were a large number of exceptions. AS
finally determined upon, these excep-
tions We're narrowed down to twenty
four, and outside of them the United
States gets the benefit of all the re.
ductions on the French minimum list.
Besides the reductions given to this
country the treaty is important. in
continuing a number of minimum rates