Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-03

| Department on September 10 to pre-
sent to the French foreign office:
1.-THE Government OF the Unite'
States has received the aide-memoir'
Of the French government on thu
subject Of possible tariff arrangement
to be made between the two govern
ments pending the negotiations OF
definitfve treaty. This aide-memoirt
| touches also on the French concep
ton of certain principles which NIGH
be included in such treaty. The Gov
crnment of the United States is bott
| surprised and disappointed at the atti
| tude of the French government rs
| therein expressed. 1t had supposed
that the French government fully
| understood that the American Law
| which fixes the tariff on imports does
not envisage the conclusion of g
treaty of reciprocity in regard to
| rates Of duty.
Passing. indeed, beyond the mere
limitations of the law into the broader
field of international trade relations
it is the profound belief of the Ameri'
can Government that the only salts
factory basis of such relations is to
be found in the domain of equal treat
ment of the trade of all nations. Any
other policy can lead only to cOnfu'
sion and misunderstanding. and, in
the opinion of the American Govern
ment, is opposed to the soundest
principles of world economics and es-
sentially OF world good will. Unless
the principle of equality of treatment
to all is admitted there can be no
confidence in the stability of trade re-
lations. and the beginning of such
discriminatory action can only lead to
its extension throughout the world.
thus creating trade groups, combina-
tons against weaker nations, reprisalS
and a long train of political and eco
homie dangers. The principle of gen
eral most-favored nation treatment
in its broadest form, as the basis of
commercial treaties, was unanimously
recommended by the members of the
Economic Conference recently held In
Geneva as principle to be followed.
This principle there had the indorse-
ment of the French members.
1T is the understanding Of the
American Government that the prin-
ciples on which the French govern.
ment fixes its tariff are those eX-
pressed in 1891 by NJ. Meline in his
report on March to the Chamber of
Deputies. NJ. Meline said at that
time:
The producer demands. as is his
right, that account be taken of the
heavy costs which burden his labor
and of the disadvantages to which he
should not be subjected. In the for
ma ton of a customs tariff he asks
that the legislature measure exactly
the differential which separates him
from his foreign competitor, and that
the tariff rate inscribed in the act be
the representation of this differential.
Your commission believed this de-
mand proper. and it is upon this basis
that it has tried to perform the diff
cult work which you have intrusted to
it. 1t has searched for the exact rate
which seemed indispensable for each
branch of industry and agriculture to
assure it's existence and free develop.
ment. It has considered that to give
to the tariff a real value and to give
courage and confidence to French pro-
duction, it is important. above all. to
fix the minimum rate which will be
assured to them and below which in
future there will be no concessions.
1t is upon this fundamental principle
that our minimum tariff policy is
based; it is this that determines its
real character
This theory was restated in 1906
by NJ. Morel, who said:
I'VE have been entirely guided by
the fundamental rules laid down by
the founders of the customs regime
Of 1892.
"'Your commission has
tried to measure exactly the differ
ances which exist between the French
producer and his foreign competitor
by reason of the costs which burden
his work and the disadvantages which
exist through no fault of his, and it
has placed in the minimum tariff the
figure representing this difference
1T is precisely on this theory Of pro-
lection that the rates of duty of the
American tariff law rest, and it is
believed that a tariff designed for the
protection OF producers and the rails
ing Of revenue is not open to objec.
ton by other governments when it is
applied equally to all. The Govern |
nent of the United States would
therefore not criticize non discrimi- |
natory tariff rates imposed by France,
since it considers that rates are a
matter solely of internal policy. 1t
feels, however, that protest is justi- |
led when these rates do not apply |
equally to all nations. The American |
Government is not now making any
criticism of the non-diScriminatory |
'ates France has adopted, but objects |
,nly to the fact that France Is dis |
against the trade Of the |
United States by applying to many |
of American goods rates |
IN some cases four times as high as
upon similar articles imported from |
Germany and other countries compel