New-York tribune., 1909-10-20
FEAR A TARIFF WAR
FRANCE MAY BEGIN 1T.
Reported That She VIII Put Mari
mum Rates an Force n gainst u. S.
fFrom The tribune Bureaus \

tFrom The Tribune BureauJ
Washington. Oct. 19-An unconfrmed report from
Paris that France is preparing decree applying
the maximum tariff American goods after No
vember is the cause of considerable concern TO
customs officials and other government officers who
have to do with the export trade Of the United
States.
II the French government adopts this course. the
United States will be powerless TO enforce retail
iatory until March 81. 1910. unless.
government official suggested to-day. the provisions
of the food and drugs act open a way to strike
back.
The Payne tariff law, it will be remembered pro-
vided for the atrogation OF all trade agreements
with foreign countries. In April tentative notices
sent to the various governments informing
them that when the tariff law went into ef-
feet these agreements would be discontinued as ex
peditiously possible
Formal notice to all countries interested
given by the State Departent on August 6 Pur-
suant to this notice. the agreements with Great
Britain and Germany will be abrogated on Feb
ruary G. Italy. Spain and the Netherlands will con-
tinue enjoy the benefits Of their agreements until
August 6, 1910.
The agreements with France. Switzerland and
Bulgaria will be abrogated on the last day Of this
month, and thereafter and until March 81, 1910 all
imports from those nations will be dutiable at the
rates imposed in the Payne law. Whether these
rates shall be increased 25 per cent after March 81
will depend on whether those countries accord the
manufactured, agricultural and other products of
the United States treatment which is reciprocal
and equivalent
Under the agreement with France. which is to
be abrogated In twelve days. canned meats pre-
pared pork meats. lard. fruits. hops timber paw
ing blocks slaves and mineral oils imported into
France from the United States granted the
minimum tariff rates.
In return for this concession various articles of
French manufacture including wines and cham
pagnes, when imported into the United States from
France. granted rates below those imposed in
the Dingley act.
UNITED STATES PowERLEss.
For instance the Dingley law fixed the duty on
champagne and all other sparkling wines. in quart
bottles, at IS a case. The Payne law duty
champagne in quarts is 50 60 case. or S 60 case
more than France has been paying. If, for any
reason the government of France imposes it's
maximum tariff against the United States in
any other way ''unduly' discriminates against the
United States its products, % per cent will be
added to the 50 90 duty champagne after March
81. 1910
All of the important countries Of the world
cept the United States enjoy the benefit OF
the entire minimum tariff Of France. Ever since
the enactment of the Payne law the State De-
partnent has been conducting negotiations with
the French government with view to having the
products of the country given equal treatment in
the markets of France. 1t is understood that
nothing definite has come Of these negotiations.
In this connection 1t was pointed out to-day that
France has nothing TO lose by imposing it's maxi
mum duties American products for the time
being For five months this government would be
powerless to retaliate by the imposition or higher
duties on French imports. as in no case is the
maximum clause OF the Payne law 70 apply prior
TO March 81 next.
1t might retaliate however, in another way. A
rigid enforcement OF that provision Of the food
and drugs act covering aduterated and misbrand-
ed articles might be invoked against French wines.
officials OF the Department of Agriculture refuse
TO discuss this question although they admit that
# the government should direct them to scrutnize
with minute care all shipments OF food products
from France to the United States the probable re-
suit would be a serious blow to French exporters
and manufactures
HEAVY WINE IMPoRTATIoNs
Even before the enactment of the Payne law, i'm
porters Of French wines and champagnes began to
I'LL their cellars. The vine and champagne impor-
tations in the last few months have been very
great and 1t is expected that these heavy shipments
will continue for the next twelve days. As October
81 falls on Sunday. the French agreement will be
abrogated a ms tier OF fact. on Saturday. Octo-
Der 80 Importers of French goods have requested
the Secretary of the Treasury to direct the Gus
toms officials to keep their offices open until late on
that date
officials OF the Treasury Department ere hopeful
that, before March 81 next. the French government
will realize that its own interests require that
American products shall enter the French markets
on the same basis as the products of other coun-
tries 1t is not the desire of this government TO
impose its maximum tariff against France.
A tariff with Fraoce would greatly hamper
the commerce OF both nations. Next to the United
Kingdom and Germany this nations best customer
is the French republic 1t is believed here that
if France meets the requirements Of the maximum
and minimum clause OF the Payne law. American
trade in that country will be greatly extended
On the other hand. the addition of Is per cent to
the duties Of the Payne law which will be the in
evitable result If France does not give American
products a square deal. would be serious blow to
the growing commerce of the French republic in
the United States.
FRANCo-AMERICAN TRADE.
1t would be prohibtive of many mportations
and would so disorganize important and powerful
French business interests that the French govern
ment probably would find itself in serious trouble
with its own people In the eight months ending
with August American exports to France were
valued at S59.69SS2S. In the same period i'm
ports from France of the value of s7s7S2.647
The new French tariff law will be taken up in
earnest when the Parliament reconvenes next
month. 1t will be subject to further amendment in
the Chamber and will then go TO the Senate. 1t is
doubtful if it will become law before the early
part of next year.
guided by the object Of making the difference be-
tween the general and minimum rates about so
per cent the average. This is considerably
higher than the difference in the present French
law, the purpose of the commission being 70 make
It worth while for foreign countries to negotiate
reciprocity the application OF the mini
mum rates AS stated in the foregoing paragraph.
the Payne law does away with all reciprocity
treaties and cOnfers no authority for the negotia-
ton of new treaties.
The pending scheme of French revision was pre-
pared with great care by parliamentary COM
mission of thirty members. This law provides
two schedules of duties-the general (or maxi
NUM- scale. which is assessed merchandise
coming from the United States. Portugal and a
few other countries which have reciprocal
treaty relations with France: and the minimum