Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-08
TO GET. FRENCH TRADE
Agreement Like That With Ger
many Proposed.
EXPERTS MAY VISIT PARIS
Nothing as Yet Has Been Definitely
Settled.
PURITY OF MILK IN BERLIN
Practically None but the Pasteurized
Product Soda Precocious
Baby in Cuba.
'URITY OF MILK IN BERLIN
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
Notwithstanding the criticisms of the new
commercial arrangement with Germany,
which are believed to be prompted by self
ish interest the Secretary Of State will
endeavor to make similar arrangement
with France. While nothing as yet has
been settled 1t Is probable that DR.. North,
superintendent Of the census; Mr.. J. L.
Gerry, chief Of the customs division of the
Treasury Department; Mr.. N. l. Stone of
the Department of Commerce and Labor,
will be sent to Paris during the coming
summer to negotiate with a similar COM
mission representing the French govern
ment. We will have to give France and
other nations the same concessions that
have been made to Germany in the new
agreement and 1t would be wise to take
advantage Of that fact and secure conces-
sfons in return. There has not been SO
much complaint Of our customs regulations
from France as from Germany, but, at the
same time. there has been a good DEAL
Only the other day the French ambassador
called attention, to what was considered
an excessive appraisement of an invoice of
crockery from Limoges. The manufac-
turers. who. by the way, are Americans
having factory there, claimed that their
invoices represented the actual wholesale
value of the goods, which was advanced
more than so per cent by the appraisers in
New York without giving them an oppor-
tun1ty to be heard or making any investi-
cation.
1t is understood that the French govern
ment is willing to enter into an arrange
nent similar to that recently made with
Germany, and give US the benefit of the
m mi rQf in, ffC IA in chon fnr
the same CONCESSIONS.
Basis for New Treaty.
While the commission was in Germany
negotiating the temporary agreement It
made thorough investigation of the COM
mercial and industrial situation. and held
numerous conferences with the officials ap-
pointed to meet it for the purpose of find
ing basis upon which the two govern
ments can enter Into permanent reel
procity treaty Of broad scope. The results
have been reported to the Department of
State, but nothing can be done until Secre-
tary Root can ascertain how far Congress
will permit him to go. There Is no use for
him to negotiate treaty to be rejected or
pigeon-holed by the Senate. That would
only make matters worse by irritating the
other party to the agreement But next
winter the Secretary will be prepared to
explain to the committee on finance of the
Senate and ways and means of the House
the terms on which a broad and permanent
reciprocity arrangement may be negotiated.
and will then be able to judge whether 1t
will be ratified. He will proceed on the
idea that 1t Is not worth while to assume
that treaty cannot be ratified, although
Senator Aldrich, Representative Dalzell
and other high-tarif apostles In the two
houses are dead set against any form of
reciprocity, and against any concessions to
any government on any article for any pur
pose whatsoever. They will be stimulated
in their opposition. no doubt, by members of
the Protective Tariff League and other gen.
tlemen who are dissatisfied with the ce0-
cessions made to Germany. Altogether, the
outlook for reciprocity treaties Is not en-
cOuraging.
The Germans want a treaty. The en-
peror. Won Buelow. the prime minister; the
minister of commerce and other officials
are very much interested, a favorable at
mosphere has been created. and some of the
important points have already been agreed
upon With the exception Of the meat
products, agreement could be reached
at single sitting.
Exclusion Of Our Meat.
Our government is not satisfied with the
treatment Of our livestock interests by Ger
many. Both the President and Secretary
Root are very much concerned about this
matter and are determined to do everything
in their power to remove the prohibitory
regulations that keep American meats out
of the German market We exclude many
German products by our high tariff. The
Germans exclude our meat products by their
sanitary regulations, but their regulations
are no more intended to protect the pubic
health than our tariff is to raise revenue.
Both are intended to accomplish the same
purpose.
of the new pure-food law will provoke pro-
tests from Germany. There is going to be
good deal of trouble In the enforcement Of
that law which will be very rigid and per
l. = 10
the Germans will be willing to modify their
restrictions against American meats.
The American Protective Tariff League in
New York Is making terrible ado about
the new arrangement with Germany. 1t
commenced a campaign of protest several
weeks before the details of the arrangement
were disclosed. appealed to various inf1u-
ences and wrote letters to manufacturers
all over the country warning them that the
Industries of the United States were to DE
sacrificed for the benefit OF few German
manufacturers. The tariff league formerly
exercised a considerable influence, but it
to any form of tariff revision that Its most
prominent members have resigned and 1t
now represents only few selfish interests
which are not willing to consider the ad-
yantages or even the existence of the great
agricultural and manufacturing industries
that are seeking an export trade.
Benefits Of the Agreement.
DR.. North. the chairman of the commits
sion which negotiated the German agree
ment summed up the results Of his mission
in a few laconic phrases yesterday. He
said there were five reasons why the COM
mercial and industrial interests of the
United States ought to be satisfied with the
new agreement:
l. Because it is for the good of the whole
country.
O. Because 1t is the best we can get
g. Because 1t is great deal better than
was expected.
T. Because we have the best of the bar
gain and got great deal more than we
gave.
s. Because we got more than we were en-
titled to under the circumstances.
In reply to a letter from manufacturer
who had been asked by the American Pro-
tective Tariff League to make a protest,
Mr. North recently wrote the following:
Dear Sir: / have your note of April 20
and have read 1t with much interest. I
went to Germany protectionist, and came
or T hof