The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
OUR TRADE WITH FRANCE
1t Will Be Stimulated by Reci-
procity Treaty.
JUST BEEN COMPLETED
Animated Discussions over Vexed Points
Finally End Sat,sfactorily-Th New
Treaty Advantageous to Both,
but Especially to America.

Washington, July 24-The long-pend-
ing reciprocity treaty negotiations be-
tween the United States and France
were brought to a successful close at
the state department late this afternoon
when Ambassador Cambon, in behalf
of France, and Commissioner Kasson,
in behalf of the United States, affixed
their signatures to the reciprocity
treaty. 1t is by far the most important
treaty concluded under the reciprocity
treaty of the Dingley law, and the only
one affecting the trade with a large
commercial nation. The negotiation
were marked by rather sharp and long
continued discussions, which continued
to the time the signatures We're placed
on the document. In the end a sort of
compromise prevailed and each side
ceded something.
AS a whole both sides express salts
faction at the general results secured,
for while the compromise necessi-
tated some minor sacrifices the general
effect of the treaty Will encourage com
merce 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 be-
ing on an average about 20 per cent
lower than those in the general oratfiC
of France. 1t was found necessary,
however. owing to protests from the
French agrarian interests, to rXc ept
from this minimum about "a articles
chiefly agricultural products. The
French ministry was forced to pay
heed to the sentiment and in turn NJ
Cambon made the exceptions con-
dition to closing the treaty. 1t was
on this point that the negotiations We're
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 number 12. but some o.
these were classes including a number
of distinct items, SO that in all there
were large number of exceptions. A
finally determined upon these excep-
tions were narrowed down to "a 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
| country, the treaty is important in con-
| tinuing 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. Al pres
! ent these oils enter France in minimum
| rates but had tO-day's treaty failed,
| a rate would have been imposed max
| ing a difference of duty amounting to
| about $4,000 900. The same is true a
| to cotton, which is one of the chief
| articles of shipment from the Unitet
States to France and enters duty free.
| Had the treaty failed, a heavy duty
| would have been imposed uron Ameri-
| can cotton The same is true of cop
| per, rubber and many classes of ma
| chinery.
| France secures important concessions
| in more than 100 of the chief products
! sent by France to this country. The
| Dingley law allows not to exceed a 20
per cent reduction az basis of reci-
! procity. but the full 20 per cent is not
| allowed on all the articles covered by
| the treaty. On some of them the re
duction is FIVE per cent; on others 10
! per cent: others il and UP to 20 per
| cent. The list would have been larger,
and the percentage of reduction greater
| in some eases. had it not been for the
| reluctance of Commissioner kasson TO
permit executions from the French
minimum list This was the main
| cause leading to the omission of cham-
| pagne from the list of Important
| french products included in the treaty.
! While quite desirous of securing re-
duction of duty on this class of wines,
the French authorities We're not ready
| to grant the large number of reduc-
tons asked as all tiiSSl l'l Nii' ~
| posed reduction on this particular ar
| ticle. AS result of this the regular
| rate will be maintained on sparkling
! wines coming to this country. Ihe
! treaty. will result in placing the pro-
ducts of the United States on the mar
| lsets on the same basis as Germany. At
| present that country has the minimum
| French rate, while the American goods
| with a few exceptions, have had to
! pay the maximum rate.
The negotiations ended to-day We're
| begun nearly two years ago. by NJ. Pa
| tenotre. then ambassador from France.
| When he was succeeded by NJ. Cambon.
the latter took up the negotiations, ana
for a time there was prospect or con-
| cIudlng a treaty. hut delays occurred,
| and in order to close the matter the
| French authorities sent from Paris NJ.
| Charpentier a treaty expert, as special
| reciprocity delegate.
| AmEa assador Cambon VIII leave Tor
| Paris in about a week, carrying with
| him the French draft of the treaty. The
! French treaty is the last of the inStru-
| ments of this 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.
EOID MIST COMING IN