[Extract—with three enclosures,]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 182.]
United Staites Legation, Paris,
October 6, 1865.
Sir: In compliance with the instructions
contained in your despatch No. 212, I addressed a communication to Mr.
Drouyn de Lhuys, of which enclosure No. 1 is a copy.
I have this day received in reply a communication, of which enclosure No.
2 is a copy and No. 3 is a translation.
His excellency admits the unequal operation of the French tariff on hops,
but declines to make that article the subject of negotiations until both
countries are prepared to subject their common custom-house relations to
a general review.
This intimation confirmed an impression which I have formed and had the
honor to communicate to you in my despatch No. 179, that this government
is not indisposed to enter into new and closer commercial relations with
the United States if its political relations with us take a satisfactory
direction.
* * * * * * * * *
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Enclosure No. 1.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys.
Legation of the United
States, Paris,
August 28, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to your
excellency a copy of a letter which has been received by my
government from a producer and exporter of hops in the United
States, in which it is stated that while the duty upon hops imported
into France from other States has been very materially reduced, the
former high duty is still imposed upon that product when imported
from the United States. This provision which acts as a prohibition
against American hops in the markets of France is not considered to
be either advantageous to the imperial
[Page 347]
revenue or to the general interest of the
dealers in this article. I am, therefore, instructed to call the
attention of the Emperor’s government to this matter, and to request
such a modification of the present system as may, in their opinion,
be best calculated to serve the mutual interests of the two
nations.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency
assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to
be your excellency’s very obedient servant.
M. Drouyn de Lhuys, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Paris.
[Enclosure No. 3.—Translation of No.
2.]
Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow.
Sir: You were so kind to transmit to me on
the 28th of August last, by calling my particular attention to a
claim made by one of your countrymen about the high duties imposed
upon American hops on their entrance into France. M. Herschel
observes that hops coming from that country continue to pay the tax
of fifty-four francs per one hundred kilogrammes which is inscribed
on the general tariff of French customs, whilst, by virtue of
commercial treaties recently concluded with Germany, Belgium, and
England, the similar products of those countries have only to pay
twenty-four francs. You add, sir, that in the commercial interests
of both countries it would be well to do away with this
inequality.
I do not hesitate to admit, sir, that the last modifications which
were made in our tariffs by negotiations created a situation that
was unfavorable for hops, as well as for other and not less
important products of the United States. I do not think it necessary
to add that the government of the Emperor would see with pleasure
the possibility of immediately extending to the natural and
manufactured products of America the benefit of the reductions of
tariff accorded to the principal European nations. But, at the same
time, I beg permission to observe that such important measures can
only be realized by a treaty negotiated in a diplomatic form, and
stipulating in the interest of the two countries mutual reductions
of duties. The question of the tariff on hops, however interesting
it may be for American producers, cannot be treated separately, and
its solution should be deferred to a moment when it will be deemed
opportune to subject the system of our maritime and commercial
relations with the United States to a general inquiry.
Accept the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the
honor to be, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,
Mr. Bigelow, United
States Minister at Paris.
