The Washington weekly post., 1899-07-25
Most Important Under the
Reciprocity Clause.
CONCESSIONS IN THE LAST HOUR
Both Parties to the Agreement Display
Spirit of Compromise and Save the Ne
gotiations from Failure-Final Results
of Negotiations Covering Nearly Two
Years Five Other Treaties Arranged
Under Provisions of the DiDglsy Act.

HE iDHH peUulUE DCdN1
gotiations between the United States and
France were brought to a successful close
at the State Department yesterday. when
Ambassador Cambon. in behalf of France,
and Commissioner KassCn, in behalf OF
the United States. affixed their signatures
to the reciprocity treaty. It is by far the
most important treaty concluded under
the reciprocity provisions of the Dingley
law, and the only ore affecting the trade
with a large commercial nation. The ne
gotiations were marked by rather shap
and long continued discussions, which
continued up to the time the signatures
were placed on the document. In the end
a spirit of compromise prevailed, and
each side yielded something. AS a whole.
both sides expressed satisfaction with
the general result secured. for while
the compromise necessitated some minor
sacrifices, the general effect Of the treaty
will encourage commerce between the two
countries.
The concessions granted by France en-
braced most of the articles in what is
known as the French minimum tariff.
This comprises GA heads, the rates being
on an average about 90 per cent. below
these in the general tariff of France. 1t
was found necessary, however, owing to
protests from French agrariar interests,
to except from this minimum list about
tWenty-fOur articles. chiefly agricultural
products The French Ministry was
obliged to pay heed to this sentiment,
and in turn NJ. Cambon made the eXCep-
tions a condition OF closing the treaty. 1t
was on this question that the negotiations
were In doubt for several days, and ii
was only by compromising on the extent
of the exceptions that an agreement was
made possible.
Minimum Rates Continued.
As first presented, the exceptions num-
bered seventy-twO. but some of these
were classes including a number of dis
tinct items, so that in all there were
large number of exceptions. AS finally de-
termined upon, these exceptions were mar
rowed down to twenty-four, and outside
OF them he United States gets the benefit
of all the reductions on the French mini
mum list.
Besides the reductions given to this
country, the treaty is important il con-
tinung a 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 minimum rate, but
had the treaty failed rate would have
been imposed making a difference of duty
amounting to about So. 900, 900. The same is
true as to cotton, which is one of the chief
articles Of shipment from the United
States 10 France, and enters duty free.
Had the treaty failed a heavy duty would
have been imposed upon American cotton.
The same is true of copper, rubber, and
many classes of machinery.
Champagne Not Excepted.
France secures important concessions
on over.100 of the chief products sent by
France to this country. The Dingley law
allows not to exceed 20 per cent. reduc-
ton as a basis of reciprocity, but the
full 20 per cent. is not allowed on all the
articles covered BY the treaty. On some
of them the reduction IS 3 per cent, on
others 10, others Is, and up to 20 per cent.
The list would have been larger and the
percentage of reduction greater in some
cases had it not been for the reluctance
of Commissioner KassOn 10 permit eX-
ceptions from the French minimum list.
This was the main cause leading up TO
the omission of champagne from the list
of important French products included in
the treaty. While quite desirous of Sc
curing a reduction of duty on this class
of wines, the French authorities were not
ready 10 grant the large number Of re-
ductions asked as an Offset for the pro-
posed reduction on this particular article.
As a result the regular rates Will be main
tained on sparkling wines coming TO this
country.
same as Germany and England.
The treaty will result in placing the
products of the United States on the same
basis in France as products of Great Brit
ain and Germany. At present those cOun-
tries have the minimum French rate,
while the American goods, with few ex-
captions, have had to pay the maximum
rate.
The negotiations ended yesterday were
begun nearly two years ago by NJ. PaCe-
notre, then Ambassador from France.
When he was succeeded by VI. CANTON.
the latter took up the negotiations ana
for time there was q prospect of C-;.l-
Guiding treaty, but delays occurred, end
in order to close the matter the French
authorities sent from Paris NJ. Charper-
tier. a trade expert, as special reciprocity
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 in
strUments Of this kind, and the treaty
work under the Dingley act is now
brought TO a close. Seven treaties have
been made, all save those with France
and Portugal, relating 10 British West
India islands.
The proclamation Of the Portuguese rec
iprOCity arrangement by the President has
been withheld from issue for the cOrrec-