Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-21
No Official Information Re.
ceived of French Intentions.
TARIFF AGREEMENT ENDS
Reciprocity Arrangements Will Ter.
inmate October 81.
NO GREAT APPREHENSION FELT
Increase in Duties Which Would
Follow the Application Of Maxi
mum Rates by Both Countries.

This government has received no Official
Information OF the reported intention Of
France to enter into a tariff controversy
with the United States. Some months
ago the official organ OF the French
government, however. announced the
fact Of the abrogation OF our commercial
agreements with them through the act
OF President Taft. In this announcement
the statement was made that the rec-
prccity arrangements with this country
would, terminate October 81 when IL il
assumed the French maximum rates will
automatically go into operation against
American importations.
The tariff situation between the United
states and France is not regarded here as
critical, although the officials are willing
TO . admit that there is some danger that
the two countries may. for time at
least. apply their maximum rates against
each other.
Embargo Authorized.
Should. however. a general tariff CON-
fiict ensue the President might find It
necessary to use drastic measures.
One of these is found In Section OF the
act o. August 30. 1890. 1t empowers the
President, in case American goods are
uhJustly disseminated against. to abso-
IuteiE prohibit the importation into tho
articles he may see fit to name. The
paragraph reads as follows:
That whenever the President shall
be satisfied that unjust discrminations
are made by or under the authority Of
any foreign state against the importa-
ton to or sale in such foreign state
OF any product Of the United States he
may direct that such products OF such
Foreign state so discriminating against
any product OF the United States as he
may deem proper shall be excluded
from importation to the United States.
and in such case he shall make proc.
lamatton OF his direction in the prem.
ises. and therein name the time when
such direction against importation shall
| take effect. and after such date the inn
portation of the articles named in such
proclamation shall be unlawful.
THE President may at any time re-
woke. modify. terminate or renew any
such direction as. in his opinion. ths
public interest may require
The application of the maximum
, rates provided for in the Payne Aldrich
bill to French goods would undoubtedly
very materially reduce our importations
| from that country, and the same would
maximum rate to American goods. The
result, therefore, to both countries
| would be harmful in the extreme.
French Maximum Rates.
AS indicating the rate of increase in the
| duties on a few of the articles included
| In the trade agreement with France,
| which went into operation June I. 1899,
should the French maximum rate he APP
piled to our expectations to that country,
may be given that OF canned meats. which
would be increased 33iA per cent, fresh
table fruits from 100 to 300 per cent.
manufactured and prepared pork meats
100 per cent, lard so per cent. the whols
list ranging from 30 to 800 per cent in
crease.
On our expectation of crude petroleum
| France. under the agreement, has been
| assessing a duty of SIS cents per gallon.
but under her maximum rate crude oil
| will pay a duty of IA cents per gallon.
| On the refined product the rate will be
! proportionatey about the same.
Under this agreement coffee in bean inn
ported into France from Porto Rico has
paid 1914 cents pound. but under the
| French maximum rate the duty will be
nearly Is cents per pound. which is said
to be prohibitive.
New Duty on Champagne.
Under these agreements French cham
pagnes imported into the United States
have been paying So per dozen quarts the
regular schedule rate having been 81
After November l champagne imported
into this country will pay schedule rate
of $3.50 a dozen, and after March 81. 1910.
If no agreement has in the meantime been
concluded. French champagne will pay
$500 with % per cent of its value added.
which, figuring the import price of cham
payne at $780, would make the maximum
duty $171O dozen quarts.
During the last fiscal year the total
imports from France into the United
States were $1Os.3 S7.,37, of which about
500 oOO, 900 were free of duty. During the
same time the exports of the United
States to France amounted to SloS. 16i.a5l-