New-York tribune., 1909-07-06
FRENCH TARIFF POLICY
Il SPEECH BY u. CRUPPI.
Government 4nriOuS Not to Com
promise Foreign Relations.

Paris July 5-M Cruppi Minister OF Commerce.
the governments spokesman. defined the gov
ernment's position toward the proposed tariff re-
vision in important speech in the Chamber OF
Deputies to-day He insisted primarily close
union in the economic and political relations OF
France with foreign countries The French govern
ment favored a policy of commercial agreements
which pure protectionists we'll free traders
rejected, and consequently opposed any except
moderate prudent revision. which would not com
promise economic relations abroad
The minister con.ended that a customs policy was
not an essential factor in the economic develop
ment nations citing the success Of Great Britain
and Germany under opposite systems, but in the
midst of the present commercial strife, France he
said must be in position to defend herself This
could be achieved by a policy of energetic CONNER
caI expansion under a system of reasonable pro-
lection, which would permit Of elasticity
Above all continued the minister talk Of re
prisaIs should be avoided they often reacted on
the authors France could not afford to jeoparoize
her export trade of 81 G0O100GO with customers in
England Belgium Germany, the United States Rus
sia Italy Spain, and he called attention to The
protests not only from abroad but from the French
export interests against many Of the proposed
schedules
NJ. Cruppi spoke in particularly sympathetic
terms of the United States saying that the French
government fully indorsed the words Of NJ Bar
thou the Minister of Public Works. when he de-
clared that there good ground for equitaue
and reciprocal concessions.
reciprocal and industrial interests as
proved bv resolutions passed by the French Cham
bers of Commerce" he said, fear a too EXTENDED
revision and favor reciprocity treaties
For the purpose OF negotiations the government
needed a wider divergence between the maximum
and minimum rates than the present tarln al
forded, but he thought that the proposed 90 per
cent in many cases was too high The govern
ment indorsed the proposed rates on turbines
sewing machines. electric lamps monographs and
automobiles. which protected new Industries On
173 articles the government and the tariff commits
sion were in accord, but on the remainder they
disagreed. With regard to the latter the minister
mentioned particularly those schedules which
threatened friendly relations with Great Britain.
Belgium and Switzerland and those relating TO oils
and other articles in which the United States is
deeply interested.
NJ. Crupp appealed the commission to reCede
from advanced position regarding these sched-
confine its revisions to a legitimate
adjustment which would strengthen the hands of
the government in the reciprocity policy, to which
France committed.
The speech of the Minister of Commerce made
a deep impression, and several motions Of
fered refer the bill back to the government.
NJ. kotz, chairman of the commission, INTERVIEWED
and protested against any action being taken
until opportunity given reply to the
criticisms the work of the mission The
debate went over until tomorrow.