Evening star., 1927-10-22
FRANCE-U. S. ISSUE
NEAR ADJUSTMENT
Official Announcements lndi-
cate Solution of Tariff and
Quarantine Problems.

Two announcements have been made
in Government circles within the last
"a hours, which are regarded as meet
ing the French complaint against the
American agricultural quarantine and
the activities of Tariff Commission
investigators in foreign countries. Al
the same time it became known that
the American reply to the last French
tariff note is virtually completed.
Attorney General Sargent has ruled
according to White House an
nouncement yesterday, that under
the law it was not mandatory to send
Tariff Commission investigators into
competing countries to determine cost
of production of goods exported to
this country. Argentina recently pro
tested against such move, and
France. in it's tariff note of September
30, Objected to Investigations into pro-
duction costs in that country.
Proposes working Arrangement"
The other announcement. made by
the State Department, dealt with
working arrangement with the De-
partment of Agriculture in regard
to application of agricultural quaran-
tines which also were mentioned in
the French note.
In effect. the new arrangement
creates machinery for joint control
by the two departments of future
quarantines on imported agricultural
products. The French note of Sep
tember 80 complained that these san
itary phyto pathological restrictions
were often completely fatal To agri-
cultural exports froom France"
The new American tariff note viii
go forward either tomorrow or early
ntlt
been disclosed. II is believed, how.
ever, to be highly conciliatory in tone.
The agreement with the Department
of Agriculture is construed in some
quarters as evidence of this attitude
and that Washington officials are
hopeful of an early beginning of COM
mercial treaty negotiations with
France to put an end to tariff discrim
nations against the United States.
French Note Unsatisfactory.
The last French note was viewed at
the State Department as unsatis.
factory when 1t was first examined be-
cause of conditional stipulations, pre-
sumahly in connection with a formula
under which treaty negotiations could
proceed. There are now indications,
however, that while Washington Off,
cials still are uncertain as TO the sig
nificance of some parts of the French
communication, they are reasonably
sure that its conditional provisions
were not intended TO preclude treaty
negotiations except upon the basis of
advance assurances of American ac-
ton In the way of lowered duties.
The Paris government is fully adj
vised that the state Department can
make no such pledge under existing
10 hf1f 4
has done, to examination by the Tariff
Commission of relative costs of pro-
duction on articles of French export
involved. The French note held that
existing American rates had been
hxed on erroneous data"
In any event, the new American
communication is expected to make it
plain that no pledge of future reduc-
tion of statutory duties can be ex-
changed for the concession by France
TO accord American goods during
treaty negotiations substantially the
customs status they enjoyed before
August 30, when the discriminate tory
rates went into effect.
Quarantine Law Change.
Under the new arrangement with
the Department of Agriculture de-
signed to reduce or eliminate some
of the friction or misunderstan
that periodically affects American po-
iitical and trade relations with other
countries as consequence Of neces-
gary quarantines or restrictions ap.
plying to foreign plant, fruit and an
imal products" no such quarantine is
10 be imposed in the future except
after preliminary consultation with
the State Department. In addition.
provision has been made for monthly
fnterdepartmental conferences as a
further measure of cooperation.
So far as France is concerned, the
chief sore point has been the Ameri-
ean quarantine against narcissus
Sulbs while a French quarantine on
American pork has been equally irk-
some to American exporters. In its
last note the State Department as
sured France it was ready to promise
a resurvey of the necessity of Ameri-
can agricultural quarantines. but in
vitad reciprocal French steps as to
French guarantees.
While the new arrangement with
the Department of Agriculture does
not touch upon existing quarantines
SO far as known, but deals with future
procedure, il appears nevertheless to
be conciliatory gesture in connec-
ton with the tariff controversy with
France, inasmuch as it is announced
in advance of any final decision as
result of the diplomatic conversation
over the tariff.