The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-03
FRENCH TARIFF TERMINATES,
FIRST SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE
OF THE ALDRICH TARIFF.
The Resembling of the Preferential
Duties on French ImpOrts-Win
Have Serious Effects Upon Trade
and May Lead to Commercial
War.


and Bulgaria under the Dingley tariff
act, and the preferential agreement
with those nations will cease to exist.
Duties imposed by the new tariff law
will be imposed on all importations
which are not entered in the United
States customs houses before the close
of business today. The effect will be
to largely increase the price Of wines
and other merchandise imported from
France. The tax will fall heavier
upon the consumers of champagne.
Advices from Paris state that there
Is much dissatisfaction in France over
the new American tariff.
There is great anxiety with regard
to the future position of France, and
the hope is expressed that the govern
ment will avoid a needless and harm
full tariff war, and that It will act
quickly and prudently to obtain the
minimum rates for French imports.
The three countries with which the
preferential agreements expire today
are not the only European nations
which are up in arms against the
hateful yankee tariff WALL" German
manufacturers, as represented in the
press of Berlin and other cities, are
"hot under the collar" and are in a
threatening mood, although the Ger
man agreements does not expire until
early next year.
The tone Of the German press Is es.
pecially unfriendly to the United
States. Even the unofficial press is
publishing editorial articles which
show that every pressure is being
brought to bear upon the government
In order to secure the adoption of
programme of retaliation. The most
marked exception Is taken to the
maximum and minimum features of
the new tariff law. The impression is
now abroad in Germany that many of
directly at German trade.
The exporting interest of Germany
seem to be convinced that the United
States will enforce the maximum rates
against that country on March 81 of
next year. AS a result of this belief.
strong pressure is being brought to
bear upon the Imperial Government
to induce 1t to assume the offensive
before that time. The existing COM
mercial agreement between the United
States and Germany will expire next
February. If the German Government
accedes to the demands of the business
interests of the country, it will put it's
maximum rates into effect against
America at that time
The appeals submitted to the I'M
perlal government are designed to
show that Germany can endure a
commercial war much longer that the
United States. l thas been pointed
out that in 1908 the imports into Ger
many were valued at 100000, 900,
while the goods shipped from Ger
many to America represented only
121.O00,000. The value of the exports
from Germany to the United States
last year was considerably less than
that of the preceding year.
The German exports which will be
most seriously affected by the new law
are silk goods, cotton fabrics, wines,
razors and post cards. German busi-
ness men believe that these articles
will be Disseminated against not only
by the application of the new sched-
ule, but by the adoption of ten new
systems of valuation, which makes
the wholesale price in the United
states the basis, instead Of the value
mentioned in the manifest accompany
ing the shipment.
1t is expected that Fance will inn
pose her maximum tariffs Immediate
agreement. The United States will he
practically helpless so far as retailia-
ton is concerned, until March 80.
1910. One measure of retaliation that
has been considered is the exclusion
absolutely of French champagnes and
sparkling wines. Undoubtedly these
could be shut out Of the American
market under the pure food law, for
1t is we'll known to the government
chemists that certain presevatives are
used in the preparation Of the French
wines which are forbidden or are
subjects of regulation under the pure
food and drug act.
The original trade agreement with
france was made on June /, 1898,
under which substantial reductions