New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-07
Expect BLOW AT TRADE
pEcLPROCITY'S FAILURE.
little Hope of Tariff Agreements
NTH Germany and France.

-v-osb,ngton. March 6.-The executive branch
:, she government has abandoned all hope of
s,s,ne any concessions which It can offer the
,r-onch government TO prevent the application
:, ,ba maximum tariff rates on American prod
+s not specifically exempted therefrom by
Icing arrangements. IT is said officially that
.ha situation as to France is therefore similar
% that IS TO Germany. In neither case can
.h,s government az present meet the demand
Cor q reciprocity treaty as the price of mini
,nrna tariff rates for American goods and prod
,,cfs Through their embassies at Washington
.be governments 81 the two countries named
hsve been made aware Of this fact and also
that # remains for Congress to decide whether
II cares to divert these blows at the American
export trade by approving reciprocity treaties
with France and Germany.
In the case Of France the State Department
Is concentrating its efforts on the live cattle
and dressed meats trade. The French govern
Fnent has declined TO accept as sufficient the
rigorous examinations and precautions against
the shipment of unfit cattle and meats provided
for in the Pure Food law and the regulations OF
the Department OF Agriculture. Instead il per-
sists in demanding the certificate of microscope
cal examination provided for by the old law and
regulation, and il is the purpose OF the State
Department TO convince the French people that
Italian government has given notice that Il Is
satisfied with the new inspection system, and
that fact is being used as an argument TO infu-
enee the French government favor7bly.
AS 10 general exports. however. there is little
to be done by the State Department, and it is
said that there is ground for protest against
the projected increase OF the French duties on
American products for protective reasons. More
than ten years ago Mr.. Kasson. special recip-
Focity plenipofentiary. made an arrangement
with the French government under Section Of
the Dingley act whereby. in return for reduced
tariff rates on stiu wines. argols, brandies and
works OF art. the French government granted
minimum tariff rates on number OF American
products, mainly agricultural and in the nature
Of crude raw materials. The French list was
limited, and did not by any means include al
the staples OF commerce with France. The
United States. for its part. withheld only one
concession which 1t was free TO offer under Sec
ton Of the tariff act-namely. a reduction Of
duty on champagnes. II still has that TO oneF
but could scarcely obtain any considerable con-
cession in return from France. so no attempt hai
been made to negotiate on that line.
Mr.. Kasson also negotiated with the French
government complete reciprocity treaty, under
the terms OF which. in return for a number o
reductions OF duty on French manufactured
goods, all American imports into France Wer
have the benefit OF the minimum French rate
That draft of a treaty was never acted on b!
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 1
is now out Of date, ana would have 20 be con
siderably amended TO meet the present condi
lions of trade. Il contains the basis Of con
vention that would satisfy the French govern
ment and prevent, n approved by the Senate
the threatened hostile action in the French
chambers. If Secretary Root could give an!
reasonable assurance 70 the French Ambassador
that the Senate at its next session would favor
ably cOnsi6UP some kind OF a reciprocity treaty
II is probable that arrangement might b.
made with the French government similar q
that made with the German government, FOL
the suspension Of the application Of the maxi
MUM tariff rates to American goods and prod
ucfs Tor year or two. But II is believed thai
nothing has occurred IN the session OF Congress
Just ended TO warrant the belief that there has
been any change in the conviction OF Senators
as N the ineEpediency Of enbarking on a policy
Of reciprocity, 50 there is little hope among the
officials of being able TO avert this threatened
blow at American trade. Moreover II is much
doubted whether a basis be found for ar
agreement with Germany TO prevent the appllca.
tion Of the German maximum tariff rates Il
American goods and products when the sus.
pensory order expires in July and the German
tariff win be applied with fun severity 70 Arnerl
can imports