The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-25

Advantageous to American Inter-
ests-DetaiIs of the Advancement.
WASHINGTON, July 24-The long
pending reciprocity treaty negotiations
between the United States and France
we're 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 con-
cluded under the reciprocity provisions
of the Dingley law, and the only one af-
fecting the trade with a large CONNER
cial nation. The negotiations were
marked by rather sharp and long con-
tinued 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 express satisfaction with the gen.
eraf results secured, for while the COM
promise necessitated some minor sacri-
fees, the general effect of the treaty will
encourage commerce between the two
countries.
The concessions granted by France en-
braced the most of the articles in what
is known as the French minimum tariff.
This comprises "A heads, the rates being
on an average about 20 per cent below
those in the general tariff in France 1t
was found necessary, however, owing to
protests from French agrarian 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 point that the negotiations
were 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 ex-
ceptions numbered twelve, but some of
these We're classes including a number of
distinct items, so that in all there We're
q large number of exceptions. AS finally
determined upon these exceptions were
narrowed down to twenty-four and out
side of them the United States gets the
benefit of all the reductions on the French
minimum list.
MILLIONS SAVED.
Beside the reductions given to this
country the treaty is important in con-
tinuing number of minimum rates
which would have been abolished If the
treaty had not been concluded The
most important of these articles are pc
troleum and mineral oils. At present
these oils enter France on the minimum
rate, but had tOday's treaty failed a
rate would have been imposed making
a difference of duty amounting to
10,
cotton, which is one of the chief arti-
cles Of shipment from the United States
to France ard enters duty free Had
the treaty failed, a heavy duty would
have been imposed upon American cot
ton. The same is true of copper, rub
Der and many classes of machinery
France secured 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
reduction as a basis of reciprocity, but
the full 20 per cent is not allowed on the
articles covered by the treaty. On some
of them the reduction is per cent, on
other TO- 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 KaSsom to permit ex-
ceptions from the French minimum list.
This was the main cause leading to the
omission of champagne from the list OF
important French products included in
the treaty. While quite desirous of
securing a reduction of duty on this
class of wines the French authorities
were not ready to grant the large num-
ber Of reductions asked as an offset for
the proposed reduction on this particular
article. AS a result the regular rates
will be maintained on sparkling wines
coming to this country.
The treaty will result in placing the
products of the United States on the
same basis in France as products OF
Great Britain and Germany. At pres
ent these countries have the minimum
French rate, while the American goods
with few exceptions, have had to pay the
maximum rate.
The negotiations ended today were be-
gun nearly two years ago by NJ Pate
notre, then ambassador from France
When he was succeeded by M. Cambor
the latter took up the negotiations, anG
for a time there was prospect of con
cluding a treaty, but it was delayed, and
in order to close the matter the French
authorities sent from Paris M Charpen
tier, trade expert, as special reciprocity
delegate.
Ambassador Cambon will leave fol
Paris in about a week, carrying will
him the French draft of the treaty
The French treaty is the last of the
instruments of this kind and the treaty
work under the Dingley act is nov
thought to close. Six treaties hav,
been made all save that with France
relating TO British West India islands