The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
UNAFRAID
OF A TARIFF WAR
Will Not Exhibit at Panama
Exposition Unless Changes
Are Made.
FINANCIER HURLS Def
Says French Are Dead Earnest" and
Well Prepared for Rate Struggle
with America.
SPECIAL Cable 70 The washinrtou HeaId.

Special Cable to The Washington Heald
Paris, March A-The question Of
French participation in the San Francis
CO Exposition has undergone q complete
change this week. 1t was stated that un-
less the inquisitional features OF the new
tariff law are amended within a month.
either by commercial treaty or other
wise, credits for official representation
at the exposition will not be voted by the
French Parliament.
This result hay developed from active
lobbying by French commercial interests
in the Chamber and Senate. and it Is
stated by business and political authori-
ties that majority has been obtained in
both houses to insure the veto of the
credits 1t can now be said almost with
certainty that there will be no important
French section at the Panama-Paciic
Exposition. The government hitherto
has been enthusiastic on the idea. but
has been unable to resist the swelling
current of opinion against the action OF
the United States Treasury in sending
inquisitorial commissions to France in
disregard of the constituted diplomatic
and consular channels.
Eve Are Dead Earnest,
Understand. We are in desperate earn
est" said Arthur David Menet president
Of the chamber of commerce and a lead
ing cotton manufacturer who was a
prominent exhibitor at the St Louis Ex-
position. during the last few months one
grievance has been piled upon another
until our commercial relations with the
United States have been strained to the
breaking point. A fine of 100000 was
imposed upon the Limoges manufacturers
Of porcelain. in open defiance of existing
agreements The crippling OF our feath-
er industry by the prohibition of the i'm
portation of plumes, and most grievous
Of all. the outrageous demand of the
Washington Treasury Department for
permission to inspect the books of our
manufacturers. have exhausted our pa
tience.
THE chamber of commerce. backed not
by few interests, but by all the greatest
French firms, has followed I'D its resolu-
tion against participation in the San
Francisco Exposition with a successful
campaign in the Senate and Chamber of
Deputies making the voting of a credit
impossible.
DO Not Want Promises.
II myself have caused to be inserted
In our resolution a saving clause by
which we may reconsider our decision IL
the American government actually takes
steps to meet our grievances. Promises,
however. will not do. We have lived on
American promises too long. The petit
tiOn. however. must come within a
month: otherwise prospective exhibitors
who are now doing nothing, will not have
time to prepare goods"
When asked il the French government
might be prevailed upon to enter upon
tariff war with America in the event
OF Washington's standing pat, II. Menet
said:
We do not invite a tariff war, but We
do not fear one. Remember. we now
have greater chances of success in such
a struggle than ever before. Formerly
il was difficult to bid for American trade,
because exports were mostly raw ma
terial- Now. a tremendous quantity of
manufactures, such as agricultural i'm
plements and all kinds of machinery,
typewriters, automobiles, etc, are ex-
ported TO France and your manufacturers
would quickly feel the effect IL We raised
tariff wall against these goods by way
Of retaliation for the heavier duties i'm
posed by the Democratic administration
on articles de luxe. which predominant
In our export trade"