New-York tribune., 1910-02-16
WAITING ON FRANCE
4 thrift DEADLOCK.
Negotiations Stopped-Situa-
ton Mau Become Serious.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau


Washington. Feb 15-Tarif negotiations
with France, the most important of the
countries with which an adjustment must
he made IL the minimum rates of the uhiteo
States are 10 be applied, have come 10
stop. and the State Department rs now
,paitiue for the French Ambassador to re-
sun,e them. The reasons for the delay are
NOT apparent, and this fact. in connection
with somewhat unfavorable legislation on
the part of the French government regard
ing certain American products, gives rise
IN the fear that the situation may become
serious.
The question OF the trade relations be-
tween the two countries has been narrowed
down to the tariff alone. A Satisfactory
adjustment of various sanitary and ad-
r,iuistratfve questions has been reached IL
is now for the French government to de-
clare its intentions in regard TO giving 'he
nroducts of the United States the Same
BILE tariff treatment accorded 10 the
nreducts of competing countries IN the
French market. The negotiations nave
stopped here and there is apparently no
desire on the part of Ambassador JUS
seraud to take them UP again
The chief cause of irritation TO the trench
government has been the application OF
the ur1re food regulations to imports 10 ttls
country The main objection of the United
States 10 the French tariff Is the excessive
rate on cottonseed products. While the
rates on these have been raised, the rates
on olive and peanut oils have been lowered,
resulting in the practical Suspension oi
trade with America in these conmodlties'
AS America is the only exporter OF cotton
seed oil the lower rate in favor OF suDsti-
tute products from other countries IS IN
terpreted as discTiulina ton against the
United States. Unless some way or aoJust-
ing this question is found, 1t Is propaole
the situation will become even more serl-
GUS a s il is the policy of the United states.
according to an authoritative statement
made to-day, 10 obtain for American COM
merce throughout the world complete equal
ity OF tariff treatment with that enjoyed
by the commerce OF any other country
The negotiations with Austria Hungary
are proceeding more satisfactorily, but
there are two questions which must he dis
posed of before an adjustment can he
reached. As in the case Of France, one OF
these is the treatment accorded American
cottonseed oil This is required to pay q
duty of Is cents a gallon. while olive oil
paws only three cents and other edible oils
pay only 10 cents Il gallon Under the
former Austro-Hunsartan tariff cottonseed
oil paid duty of 512 cents gallon. and
fourishing trade, amounting to S2,e4AeQo
year. was established.
The other point at issue is the regula-
tions governing the admission of pork
products from the United States. Austria
Hungary requires a certificate in the case
of American porty to show microscopic eX-
animation in this country. Nearly all the
countries OF the world accept American
pork on the submission OF a certificate Of
inspection alone. There is some question
whether or not these regulations may be
regarded as discrimina tory, and there is
prospect that the obstacle will be removed
without much difficulty.