The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-29
PRESIDENT SIGNS The TREATY
France and America Have a New
Reciprocal Agreement.
Negotiations Conducted and Com
pleted Under Authority of the
Dingley Tariff Law.

/ President Roosevelt yesterday proclaim
ed the tariff agreement negotiated be-
/ tween France and the United States UNI
/ der the authority Of section 3 Of the Ding
I ley tariff act, which authorizes the Presl-
/ dent 10 arrange reciprocal trade agree
ments with foreign countries. The agree
ment was signed by Secretary EIhu Root
/ for the President and by NJ. j. j. JUS
seTand, the French Ambassador. on the
part Of France. The agreement will not
be submitted 10 the Senate for ratifca-
ton, and tt viii go into effect on Feb
rUary J.
The most important feature of the
agreement is the abatement Of - per cent
on the duty on champagne imported into
the United States, and France in turn
agrees TO impose only her minimum rates
Of duty on Porto Rican coffee and min
eral oils A board OF three experts Of
each country is 20 DE appointed under
the terms ~ the agreement. 10 investi,
gate and report upon the customs adj
ministration systems OF both countries
The tariff agreement will remain in
force until the President OF either Coun-
try gives notice 90 the other country
in his proclamation the President saws
that hereinafter all duty on champagne
and an other sparkling wines, IN bot
ties containing not more than one quart
and more than one pint, S. per dozen.
containing not more than one pint and
more than o1e-half pint. So per dozen:
containing one-half pint each or less
$50 per dozen; In bottles or other yes
sells containing more than one quart each.
in addition 20 s. per dozen, bottles on
the quantities IN excess Of one quart, al
the rate of $40 per gallon.
The text OF the agreement is the ap-
plicatiOn Of the duties of the general tariff
10 coffee. cocoa. chocolate, vanilla, and
other food products known ia the French
tariff law as DEGREES c0loniales de con
s0mmati0n," except sugar and its by
product and tobacco products of the
United States, including Porto Rico. shall
be cOnditioEally suspended, and that the
said products shall be admitted into
France and Algeria at the rates Of the
minimum tariff. or at the lowest rates
applied to the Ike products OF any other
foreign origin.
coming under the decree Of July Z. 1888.
shall. upon entry into France and Al
geTia. enjoy the benefits OF the lowest
rates of duty
II is further agreed that. inasmuch as
complaints have arisen in both countries
regarding the effect of the regulations I'm
force affecting the admission Of each
others products. and 10 the end II there
be in the regulations Of either country
any provisions which unnecessarily re-
strict trade, such provisions may be mod
flied, and the cause of complaint removed.
a commission OF three experts shall be
appointed by the government of the
United States and a like commission Of
three experts shall be appointed by the
government Of France.
These commissions shall inquire into
and ascertain fully the existing conditions
in each country
This agreement takes effect and VIII be
In force on and after the first day of Feb
ruary, 1903. and shall continue in force as
long as the agreements signed on May y.
1895, and August 20, 1902, shall remain In
force.