The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16


vention shall continue in force from year
to year thereafter until twelve months
after such notice shall be given"
After the passage of the Dingley bill
the State Department sent copies of it to
the American embassies and legations for
communication to the various Govern
ments. Mr.. Kasson, in a formal state
ment accompanying the convention, said:
NO more than this had been done at the
time the President charged me with the
duty OF negotiating these conventions, and
these foreign Governments seemed to have
given no attention to it.
The condition of commercial feeling in
Europe as ! found very soon after under
taking these duties was exceedingly hos
tile to the United States. The Dingley bill
had produced an effect all over the con-
tinent of Europe of evaporation through
out the commercial world, and among the
Governments as we'll, to such an extent
that one high otTicer-the Premier Of the
hust.o-H Hungarian Government-had open
ly proposed union of official action
against the United States commerce. as
their only means of protecting their own
commercial interests. In this state OF
feeling. at first, there seemed no disposition
anywhere CT the continent of Europe or
in the Governments of South America to
take any steps under the reciprocity clause
of the bill.
The first movement was tentative
movement by the British for their colonies.
Then the French. who have different
tariff system from the rest of Europe
concluded to open a negotiation. and Mr.
Patenotre came to me with proposition
for the whole 20 per cent reduction pro-
vided by the fourth section of the tariff bill
hn l,nfp mi n irlfl
of France on our goods. l went over the
figures with the representative Of the
Treasury Department and found that 1
could not entertain that proposition in Its
length and breadth, and after serious dis
cussion that negotiation was suspended
halted at least and continued hating until
4 change in the embassy was made, and
Mr.. Cambon came here as Ambassador.
Then it was again taken up on the basis
which suggested of moderate reduction
along the line of specific French articles
in exchange for their grant OF the mini
mum tariff.
Here ought to say to you who may not
have looked into the matter that tie
French tariff system is peculiar. II is tie
only country which has such a one. aud It
has certain advantages which deserve the
consideration of Our legislative authorities
at the proper time. They have a gre a.
tariff which applies to all the word. and
is. as rule, highly protective. Tley have
another scale, called the minimum tariff
varying from 10 per cent TO as much as 1cO
per cent reduction below the general tariff.
and according to articles. On certain ar
ticles the tariffs are identical; ard they
also have free list. Their free LIST m
braces, especially of our interests, raw cot
ton and tobacco. the latter of wh.ch-is
Government monopoly. and the raw 90 tol
is introduced free because 1t is q very i'm
portant element of their manufacturing n
dustries.
LAS said. few articles are identical as
TO the general and the minimum riffs, but
on manufactured artic!es there is usually
a very marked difference in the two rates.
They give their minimum rate TO other Ia
lions for a consideration only. Tais system
has existed in France for many years, and
in the course of these years Great Britain.
Germany, Belgium, Russian fact all The
of Europe except Portugal, l be-
lieve-have acquired the minimum Ia II.
with the result that the imported manufac-
lures of France have been chiefly supplied
by the Continental countries of Europe md
by England She imports a very large
amount of manufactured goods-speakins
over sl00, 000, 0G0 in value. CT. a.
Britain. for example, supplies. taking the
|f"''N'''N'
and Germany S31 coo. coo in round NUM- e s.
while we supplied only about s35o,t00
That is to say, We have hardly entered with
goods into the French mar
ket. being saut out by different;al rates OF
duty. 1t is market OF 10000, goo of peo-
,le-the treaty covers Algiers alsO-and. in
he main, the most intelligent consumers.
md the most advanced in the works of Z,
civilization in Europe. as well as people
who pay for what they buy. or course,
hose countries having the minimum rate;
If duties have supplied these vast millions
If manufactures.
1T was clear to me that here was IN
opening for the development of our COM
nerce in comparison with which the COM
nerce of eemi-civilized peoples was of lite
consequence. Our people had written me
hat they could compete II they could only
,et in on the same terms. For example, a
arge chemical company OF New York,
which manufactures sulphate Of copper,
which is used all over France on III ir
ines, had written me that they could COM
,ete successfully with the manufacturers
If other countries now supplying Frsnce.
Tut that the difference of duties shut them
If"