Mr. Porter to Mr. Sherman.

No. 125.]

Sir: Since the cable I sent you on the 20th instant in reply to the telegram of the Department concerning the bill introduced in the French Chamber of Deputies for the increase of the import duties on [Page 133] pork, pork products, cotton oil, etc., I have followed up my previous action with a view to leaving no steps untaken to prevent hostile action here. The bill concerning pork products is the same one mentioned in this embassy’s No. 633, of February 12, 1897. It was somewhat amended in the committee room, and, in its present shape, it proposes the following changes to the tariff in force:

  • Article 12 of the tariff: Pork, 12 francs per 100 kilograms instead of 8 francs.
  • Article 13: Pigs weighing 35 kilograms or less, 3 francs instead of 1.50 francs.
  • Article 16, section 2: Pork meat, 18 francs instead of 12 francs.
  • Article 17 bis: Pork butchers’ meat, 70 francs instead of 25 francs.
  • Article 30, section 2: Lard, 25 francs instead of 14.50 francs.

I have seen many times Mr. Hanotaux and other French officials with reference to this matter, and have endeavored to convince them—

(1)
That the enactment of a bill introducing such radical changes in the present rates would undoubtedly be fatal to our contemplated reciprocity arrangement, and have urged them to postpone action at least until their new ambassador could reach Washington and take up the subject of reciprocity anew.
(2)
That the proposition is, in itself, not only unjust, as leading to the destruction of an important branch of commerce between our two nations, but also unfriendly in its character, as it discriminates against the United States.

I know that these arguments have made a serious impression on Mr. Hanotaux and his associates at the foreign office, and that through him and them they have reached the department of agriculture and determined the action of Mr. Meline, the prime minister, in having the proposition adjourned.

In his conversation with me on this subject Mr. Hanotaux, however, alluded more than once to the great loss suffered by the French trade in consequence of the sudden substitution of the Dingley tariff for the Wilson Act, and intimated that if the reciprocity arrangement now under consideration could not be brought to a successful termination, it would be impossible to prevent the introduction in the Chamber, and perhaps the adoption of measures affecting more or less some of the American products which the French farmers consider as competing advantageously with their own.

On the 19th instant, after the adjournment of the debate on the bill on pork products, four deputies introduced an amendment to that bill providing for an increase of 18 francs per 100 kilograms on cotton-seed oil, which it is proposed to tax 24 francs instead of 6 francs. The amendment was referred to the committee.

The manufacturers of soap in France, who use a great deal of pure cotton oil, are now appearing before the committee and arguing against an increase of tariff on that article, but those engaged in the business of manufacturing oil from seeds are bringing all the pressure they can in favor of the increased tariff on our oil.

Mr. Cambon, the new ambassador to the United States, will not sail until about Christmas.

I have, etc., etc.,

Horace Porter.