The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-15
RECIPROCITY TREATIES
RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH
GERMANY AND FRANCE.
Both Countries Anxious to secure Con-
vided by the Dingley Law.

WASHINGTON. March 14.-Negotiations
for reciprocity treaties with Germany and
France have been resumed and there Is stin
a prospect that a treaty may he negotiated
with Great Britain covering the British
West Indies. These several treaty negotia-
tons were interrupted some months ago by
the service Mr.. Kasson. our reciprocity
commissioner. was obliged 10 give to tbs
Canadian commission. AS this work IL
closed, Mr.. Kasson is free 10 resume the
negotiations with the other countries and
he has written TO inform them that he il
at liberty TO proceed. 49,
In the case of France, Ambassadors
CaInbon returns from Paris with the very
earnest hope OF carrying through a treaty
under Section Of the Dingley law. on the
part of France ii is proposed TO give TO
the United States their minimum tariff
list. The French tariff has two rates a max
imum and a minimum. The difference aver
ages about Is per cent. Countries specially
favored by France get the minimum rates,
while those having no arrangement pay the
maximum rate, % per cent. higher. The ef-
feet Of this is 10 place higher duties on
American goods than on those of England.
Germany. Russia and some thirty-one coun-
tries with which France has made CONNER
cial arrangements. In the negotiations with
Mr.. Kasson this minimum rate is conceded.
the only question being as TO what the
United States will grant in return. The law
permits a 20 per cent. reduction Of duty on
designated articles. but an arrangement has
not been reached as 10 what these articles
shall be. The French contention Is that the
list should be liberal, as their minimum list
covers the entire tariff list. They also con-
tend that the average of French duty on
American goods is about IL per cent. ad
valorem. as against about 30 per cent.
American duty on French goods. ".
Cambon is awaiting some further statistical
information from Paris and it is expected
that active negotiations will proceed in
about two weeks.
The German negotiations have been re-
sumed on a rather broad scale. They began
over year ago on a strict commercial
basis and made no progress owing TO Ger
many's course in certain other public mat
ters Recently, however Germany has given
unmistakable evidence of good VIII. AS a
result the officials have shown disposition
to listen with more attention 10 Germanys
desires on reciprocity and the subject is
being considered in its broad general fea-
lures. The scope of the negotiations Is
shown in the fact that Secretary Hay HIM
self Is carrying II forward, the detailed
work on schedules not having been taken up
as yet by Mr.. Kasson. Whether the negotia-
tons will prove successful is too early to
the Germans, express their hope that a
treaty will result within the next three
months.
The British negotiations reached an adj
vanced stage, and then collapsed entirely.
They were managed by Sir Julian Paunce-
the articles to be covered by the proposed
treaty. The document was about ready 10
sign last summer. when the London authori-
q a a haf rharr rEDrG
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY Of granting coun-
Prevailing duties to the sugar producers OF
the British West Indies, after the American
practice: This put off the reciprocity treaty,
for II the imperial government gave cOun-
tervailing duties there was not the same
cept for this statement the imperial govern
ment has done nothing on countervailing
received neither the benefit OF the duties
nor OF the reciprocity treaty. IL has sufflced
however to let the negotiations lapse. and
tempted of late II Sir Julian goes 10 the
disarmam ent congress at The Hague in May.
negotiations before he goes, and after that
the two years period for negotiations for
will have expired. The expiration of this MI,
period is urging all foreign countries TO has
ten their negotiations.
the Dingley law provided that the Presi-
dent shall have authority for two years
from the date when the law became opera
tive July o. 1870 TO make reciprocity treat
les. This period expires July "a next so that
only three months remain TO complete treat
les under this law. 1t is said. however. that
II they fail of completion within that time
IL Will not necessarily end all the negotia-
tons; as the President still has the consti-
tutional right, independent of this SPECIFIC
law. to negotiate treaties by and with the
consent OF the Senate. If deemed advantage
eous this constitutional authority will be
exercised even after July "a next.
The negotiations with Peru have not
proved successful. that country was not
willing TO grant a reduction on the articles
which this government considered should be
covered. These are practically all the nego-
uatlons, although there has been the initia-
tive in other quarters.