Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-25
VISITED PRESIDENT TODAY
Noted French Visitor Looking
 Over Our Country.

He Visited President Lincoln in 1S61--
 Great Opportunities in France, He
 Says, of American Iron Products
 Says an Alliance Against the United
 States May Come About.
 Washington, April 25-The French ambassador called at the White house at Il o'clock this morning and intro duced to the president M. Jules Sieg- fried, formerly minister of commerce, industries and colonies in the Ribot cabinet. and also an official of long service in the French senate and in the chamber of deputies. M. Siegfried's s visit to the president recalled the ir- teresting fact that during his last visit to America in 1861 he was received by President Lincoln and enjoyed q pleasant exchange of views with the president of that day. At that time the forces of the north were hurrying through Washington and M. Siegfried accompanied General Mcclellan in q review of the army of the Potomac In the call at the White house to-day the president spoke in most friendly terms of the relations between this country and France.
 M. Siegfried was seen later in the day and talked in an interesting man. her on the purposes of his visit to this country. He said: q come over to look over the remarkable growth of America in all commercial and indus trial lines and to study economic ques- tions which are being developed Ma turally am much interested i'll the ex- tension of commercial relations be- tween this country and France. There seems to me to be no reason why our mutual trade should not be very large ly increased, with advantage to both countries. Moreover it seems to me possible so to adjust tariff concessions on both sides that. there will be no disadvantage to special lines of indus try or production, the exchange being encouraged more particularly on lines of. goods which one country produces and which the other does not produce There are great opportunities for an increased use in France of the Ameri- can products of iron. It is quite cer- tain too, that if the United States takes the initiative in making concessions France will reciprocate in the fullest measure. The prevailing sentiment in France Is favorable to a protective policy, although personally am rather inclined to free trade. But in any ev- ent I am quite sure that some middle ground can be secured to the adyan- tage of both countries [ am glad to say there is the most cordial sentiment entertained throughout France to- wards the United States. This is tra- ditional with us. but there never has been a time when the feeling was more genuine than it is at present.
 NJ. Siegfried was asked as to the re- cent reports that some of the European powers might unite in a commercial alliance directed against the United States.
 What might come about,' said he, "and it is an additional reason why it is desirable to have the two repub- lies enter into close commercial asso- ciation."
 M Siegfried also expressed an inter- est in the movement going on in this country to build up the merchant ma- rine by the payment of subsidies. He says that France already has a sub- sidy system which assisted to q consid- erable extent in meeting the commer- cial supremacy of Great Britain on the sea, and he entertains the view that like encouragement ill the United States would bring about similar re suits in the development of the Ameri- can merchant shipping.
 He will remain in Washington until tomorrow, when he starts on an ex- tensive trip through the west visiting the Carnegie works at Pittsburg and going thence to Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and many other points, return ing by way of Canada to Boston and comemrcial centers in New England.