Evening star., 1930-06-21
Normal Relations Between
Nations Depend on Reciproc-
ity, Minister Says.
COMMISSIONS ACTION
SEEN AS HOPE FOR CUT
Flandin Declares I'VE Will Be OBJ
liged to Deal With Situation"
if Protest Fails.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 21.-A global claim fol
reduction of the new United State:
tariff rates on a certain number o.
French products after careful investi'
CATION is the French government ain
made known in a formal interview with
the press today by Pierre Etienne
Flandin. minister of commerce.
The official stated that in case the
Tariff Commission should prove unable
to give satisfaction to the demands oi
France it will be necessary to face the
situation" He added significantly that
normal relations between the United
States and France can be guaranteed
only by strict reciprocity"
NJ. Flandin said he believed such mod
ifications might be secured from the
Tariff Commission. otherwise" he
said, I'VE will be obliged to deal with
the situation.
ut is incontestable that the Hawley-
Smoot tariff involves considerable IN
creaSes on a number of products" ne
said, considered at the beginning as
measure for the protection OF the
farmer, the project was extended notably
to cover the industrial interests
Cites Trade Shrinkages.
"It is only just to recognize" the
minister added, that we have obtained
appreciable satisfaction on some points
during long discussion of the bill. For
instance, Congress renounced proposed
increases on lace from go to 300 pei
cent ad valorem and we thus safe
guarded our industries in Calais and
Caudry. But on certain other points
our protests were unavailing."
He pointed out a growing shrlnkage
in French trade with the United States,
stating that the balance in favor OF
the United States which amounted to
1900. 900 900 francs in 1928 had in
creased to 100000, 900 in 1929 and that
this year the first three months busi-
ness showed a balance unfavorable to
France at a rate of $500, 100000 francs.
Invisible" Exports Considered.
"Of course" M. Flandin continued,
this unfavorable balance is offset in a
certain measure by invisible exports. F"
The minister qualified the statement by
saying: But purchases made in France
by tourists, even in normal times, are
insufficient to make up such deficit,
and besides it is reasonable to take into
account that the tourist movement has
singularly slowed up in France.
I'VE must not overlook on the debit
side of our account with the United
States sums which we are obligated to
pay on war debts which amount to an
average of 80 million dollars a year."
The minister said his Office was work.
ing closely in cooperation with the
French commercial attache in New
York scrutionizing the new tariffs. COM
pairing them with former rates and with
French duties and consulting all eco
nomic associations interested in the
question.
Demand to Be Made.
Minister Flandin said that a global
demand will be made to the American
Government.
"As soon as the results of these ex-
aminations and consultations are in
hand" M. Flandin said, "they will be
transmitted to President Hoover. Two
eventualities are to be considered.
The American authorities will either
! give us satisfaction or refuse If we
obtain modification of certain tariffs
we shall have no reason to seek to
change our relations with the great
country which rendered us such emil
nent service during the war.
I'VE hope Americas sense of Justice
and traditional comprehension of busi-
ness will bring it to a reasonable ap-
probation of the situation. Neverthe-
less, If the Tariff Commission should
not take our complaints into considera-
ton we must face the problem"
The minister of commerce said he
was unable today to foresee what meas
ures might be taken, but he declared
In conclusion: Il can only say that
normal relations between the United
States and France can be guaranteed
only by the principle of strict reci-
procity."
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