Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-25
THE TREATY SIGNED.
Reciprocal Trade Agreement
Entered Into With France.
Our Goods Now Enter on Same Basis
With England and Germany.
Last Of the Treaties Under the ninoicy Act.
Numbering Six in All.

Washington, July 24.-The long pend
ing reciprocity treaty negotiations be-
tween the United States and France
were brought to successful close at
IN" state department, late this after
noon, when Ambassador Cambon. in
behalf Of France, ana Commissioner
kasson. in behalf Of The United states.
affixed their signatures to the treaty.
1t IS by far the most important treaty
concluded under the reciprocity provi-
siohs Of the Dinglcy law and the only
one affecting the trade with a large
commercial nation.
The negotiations were marked by
rather sharp ana long continued dis
cussions which continued mp TO the
'rle the signatures were placed on the
documents. In the end spirit Of com
promise prevailed and each side yielded
something. AS whole both sides *
press satisfaction with the General re-
suits. secured for while the compromise
ncccsSitatrd some minor sacrifices. the
general effect Of the treaty will en-
courage commerce between th, two
countries.
The cprcrssioIs granted by France
embraced most Of the articles tn what
is known as tn French minimum tar
if. This comprises GA heads. The rates
being on an average about ~ per cent.
below those IN the general tariff If
France. II was found necessary. how
ever. owing ~ protests from French
agraiian interests To except from this
minimum list about "a articles. chiefly
agricultural products The French
ministry was obliged 20 pay heed to
this sentiment and IN turn VI. Cambon
mad" the exceptions a condition OF
closing the treaty
III was on this point that tire npgo-
tiations We're in doGb. for several DAYS.
and II Was only by compromising on
the extent Of the exceptions that a
number was made possible. As first
presented the exceptions numbered l.. |
hut some Of these were classed in
Guiding number of distinct items. 50
that in al! there was q large number Of
exceptions. AS finally determined upon, |
these exceptions were narrowed down |
n 24 and outside Of them the United |
states gets the benefit Of all the re-
ductioEs on the French minimum Iist.
Besides the reduction given to this |
government the treaty H. important in |
minimum rates which would have been /
abolished If the treaty HAD not been
concluded The most important of |
thtS" articles are petroleum and min
er"I oils at present these oils enter |
France on the minimum rate. but had |
tcday's treaty failed a rate would have |
Leen imposed making a difference Of |
duty amounting 70 about $1,000 coo The
: - fyY1t ~ |,
Of the chief articles Of shipment from
the United States to France and en-
ters duty free. Had the treaty failed L
2 heavy duty would have been imposed
upon American cotton. The same is
true OF copper. rubber ana many
classes Of machinery
France secures concessions on over
100 Of the chief products sent BY
France to this country. The DingIey
laws allow not to exceed 20 per cent.
reduction IS a basis of reciprocity but
the fud 20 per cent is not allowed on
al the articles covered by the treaty.
ON some of them the reduction is ) per
cent. on others - and up to 20 npr
cent.
The list would have been larger and
the percentage of reduction greater in
some cases had it not been for the re-
luctancc 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 desirous of securing q reduction
of duty on this class Of wines. the
French authorities We're not ready to
grant the large number of reductions {
asked for as an offset for the propOsed |
reduction on this particular article. AS
I result the regular rates will be main &
tanned on sparkling wines coming to |
his country !
The treaty will result in placing the
products Of the United States on the y
same basis in France as products of J
Great Britain and Germany. At pres {
mt these countries have the minimum
If the French rate while the American
goods with few exceptions have had to
)ay the maximum rate. q
The negotiations ended, today. were
'eSun nearly two years ago by NJ
'atrenGtre. then ambassador from
trance. When he was succeeded by
VI. Cambon, the latter took up the ne Il
,otiations and for a time there was Z
prospect of concluding a treaty, but i
lelays occurred and in order to close Is
he matter the French authorities sent o
rom Paris NJ. Chapentiere. a trade ex p
'ert. as special reciprocity delegate. q
Ambassador Cambon will leave for u
'aris in about a week. carrying with
i'm French draft of the treaty.
The French treaty is the last of the
of this kind and the treaty f
FORK under the Dingley act is now
rought to a close. Six treaties have
cen made. all save that with France
elatinS to British West Indies IL
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