Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-04-26
n. JULES SIEGfRlEO
Calls on President is After Better Commercial
Relations With France.

ambassador called at the White House
at II O'Clock this morning, ana INTRO
duced TO the President NJ. jules Si"s-
fried, formerly minister OF commerce.
industries and colonies in the ltlDot
CabiEct, and clso an official or long
service in the French Senate ana in
the Chamber of Deputies NJ. Sieg-
fricd's visit to the President recalled
the interesting fact that during his
last visit 20 America in lS5l he was re-
ceived by President Lincoln and enjoy
ed n pleasant exchange Of views with
the President Of that dty. At that
time tee forces Of tie North were hur-
rying through Washington and Nj.
Siegffied accompanied Cen. Mcclellan
IN Il review Of the Army OF the poio-
.siac. In the can al tie Wh.tc House,
today. the President spoke IN most
fricadly terms ~ the relations between
this country ana France.
NJ. Sicsfricd vas seen later In the
day and talked Ii an interesting man
ncr on tn" purposes of his visit tn this
country. lie said:
II came over To look over til" r.
morkablc growth Of America IN all
commercial AMI industrial lines and to
study economic questions which are
being developed. Naturally | arn much
Interested in tHr extension "f coInmer-
,ial relations between this country
France. There seems 10 ne To he y"
reason why our mutual trade should
not IN very largely Increased with ai-
vantage - both countries.
.Murcn>cr. it seems ~ me possible
sn To adJus, tariff concessions nn hnth
SIDES that there viii bc ~ disadNan-
tacc to special lines of Industry or
production. the exchange being cnc"';'-
aged more particularly on lines "t
Goods which one country produces and
which the other docs not p:odu'r.
There ere great opportunities for an
increased use an France of the Amc:i-
can products Of iron. Il IS quite cei tain
too. that II the United states takes
the initiative in making concessions
France will reci?roc~ to in the fullest
measure.
Tho prevailing sentiment in France
is fayorabl" 10 q protective policy. al
though personally | am rather inclined
10 free trade. But IN any event | am
nuite sure that some middle ground
can be secured to the advantage Of
both countries.
II am glad to say there is the most
cordial sentiment entertained through
ont France towards the United States
This is traditional with us. but there
never has been a time when the feel
ing was more genuine than it is at
present.
NJ. SieGfried was asked as to the re-
conf rrports that some of the European
powers might unite in a commercial
alliance directed against the United
States.
THAT might come about" said he.
"and II is an additional reason why ~
is desirable to have the two republics
enter into close commercial assocla-
tons
NJ. SieCfr;ed also expressed an in
tcrest in the movement going on in TINS
country to build up the merchant ma
rine by the payment of subsidies. He
saws that Frarce already has a subsidy
system which assisted to CONSIDER
able extent in meeting the commercial
supremacy of Great Britain on the sea,
and he cntertains the view that like
cncoura cement in the United states
would bring about similar results IN
the development Of the American mcr-
chant shipping.
He will remain in Washington until.
tomorrow. when he will start on an cX-
tensivc trip through the West. visit
ing the Carnegie Works at Pittsburg.
and going thence to Chicago. Miiwau-
kee. st. Paul and many other points.
returning by way Of Canada to Boston
and commercial centers in New Eng
ln nd