Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-30
RECIPROCITY WITH FRANCE.
Proclamation by the President An
nouncing New Arrangement.

drawn under Section OF the Dlngley
act Under it, America conceoes ~
per cent abatement in duties on cnam-
payne and sparkling wines imported
into this country, and France coh-
firms the minimum tariff rate now &C
corded American products. Other I'M
portant provisions are made. including
the creation of commission to con-
slider possible amendments to the trade
regulations in France and America.
| The proclamation follows:
BY the President Of the United
States:
"A proclamation:
Whereas the government or The
| United States and the government oI
| the French republican have entered INTO
an additional commerce agreement,
signed on the 2Sth day of January.
| 1908, by which the application OF the
| minimum rate under the third section
| Of the tariff act of the United States.
apprived July "a. 1897, to champagne
and all other sparkling wines, is pro-
vided for in return for certain spec!-
| fled concessions in favor OF products
of the United States including Porto
Rico. which concessions in the judg-
ment Of the President, are reciprocal
| and equivalent:
Therefore. be it known that /.
Theodore Roosevelt President Of the
United States Of America. acting IN
der the authority conferred by said act
| o: Congress, do hereby conditionally
suspend fran the first day OF Febru-
airy. 1905 and during the time and in
accordance with the terms of the at
foresaid additional agreement. signed
January 2Sth 1903, the imposition and
cole ction Of the duties imposed by the
| first section Oc said act under articles
| hereinafter specified being the prod
| ucts of the soil and industry Of
| France. and do declare, in place there
| of the rates Of duty provided i'll the
! third section of said act 10 be in force,
| as follows:
"C'n champagne and all other spark
| ling wines in bottles containing not
more than one quart and more than
| one, pint. six dollars per dozen; con-
| tanning not more than one pint each
| and more than one-half pint. one dol
| lar and fifty cents per dozen; in bot
| ties or other vessels containing more
| than one quart each in addition to six
| dollars per dozen bottles on the guam
| titles in excess of one quart at the
! rate of one dollar and ninety cents per
gallon"
Accompanying the proclamation is
the text of an agreement signed today,
| the feature of which, in addition to the
| statement of new duties on cham
payne, is found in Article l, which
reads as follows:
1T is agreed on the part of the
French government that the applica-
ton Of the duties Of the general tar
| iff to coffee, cocoa. chocolate, vanilla
and other pure food products. except
| sugar and it's by-products and tobac-
co products of the United States. in
Guiding Porto Rico. shall be condition.
ally suspended and that the said prod
| ucts shall be admitted into France and
Algeria at the rates of the minimum
| tariff, or at the lowest rates applied
to the like products OF any other for
eisn origin.
I'm addition, mineral oils from tho
NIited States and coming under the
decree Of July :, 1893. shall, upon en-
| try into France and Algeria. enjoy tho
! benefits Of the lowest rates of duty.
But it is expressly understood that
| these concessions may be withdrawn
! in the discretion of the President of
the French republic, whenever addi-
| tional duties beyond those now exist
| ing and which may be deemed by him
| unjust to the commerce of France
shall be imposed by the United States
on products of France"
Az
champ pa Gne duties is a paragraph sim
| liar to tho above except that 1t author
Ives the President to withdraw conces-
sions to France in case increased du-
ties are levied. The final articles of the
agreement are as follows
Article III. 1t is further agreed that
inasmuch as complaints have arisen
in both countries regarding the effec,
Of the regulations in force in the re-
spective countries affecting the nd
miss ion Of each others products, and &c
the end that if there be in the reGu-
lation of either country any proEi-
siOns which unnecessarily restrict
trade such provisions may be modi-
fed and the cause of complaint re-
moved, q commission Of three experts
shall! be appointed by the government
OF the United States and a like COM
mission of three experts shall be APP
pointed by the government of France
Such commissions shall in conference
each with the other. inquire into and
| ascertain fully the existing conditions
III each country. as bearing upon the
| necessity Of the regulations affecting
| the trade Of the other country and a.
| bearing upon the practicability of re-
| ciprocal tariff concessions. Each COM
mission shall report to its own govern
ment thereon.
st is further agreed that upon the
| basis of the reports Ss. made that the
| governments shall enter upon an cX-
change of views to the end that if
| possible all cause OF complaint in their
respective regulations regarding the
| admission of any of the products OF
either country to the other may be re-
moved.
Article w. This additional agree
ment shall take effect and be in force
on and after the first day of Febru
airy. 1908, and shall continue in force