Office of the Historian

The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador.

Department of State,
Washington, June 19, 1907.

Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am sending to you to-day a memorandum in reply to yours of March 26 last relating to the duty on Porto Rican coffee, and also a letter suggesting certain changes in the French restrictive regulations applicable to American cattle, meats, fruits, and plants, which would seem to be made practicable by the working of our new inspection laws in the United States.

I wish at the same time to confirm what I have already said to you orally, that during all the negotiations which have led to the commercial agreement between the United States and Germany, proclaimed by the President on the 1st day of this month, this Government has looked forward to proposing similar negotiations with France, and has kept in mind the complaints which have been made from time to time in behalf of French exporters to the United States regarding features of our customs administration which they considered vexatious and injurious to them; that it was our purpose to make the amendments of our regulations of such a character as to remove, so far as practicable, all cause for complaint on the part of the French exporters, as well as on the part of German exporters; and that it is the wish of this Government to apply the new regulations to trade between the United States and France without any discrimination whatever against the latter country.

In my letter relating to the regulations upon the admission of American cattle, etc., I have asked that the French Government shall send a commission of experts to the United States to examine into the workings of the official inspection system now in operation in this country. On the other hand, we are very desirous to put all the trade relations between France and the United. States on the most satisfactory basis possible, and I have conferred with the Secretary [Page 292] of the Treasury as to the sending of a commission of American experts to Limoges to inquire into the condition of the pottery industry there, for the purpose of establishing upon a more secure and trustworthy basis the valuations of the port of New York.

With his concurrence I take pleasure in saying that this Government is ready to send such a commission if it be agreeable to the Government of France.

We should be very glad to give to the various inquiries which have thus been indicated the broadest scope possible, for the purpose of a general improvement of commercial relations, and, if your Government is disposed to proceed further along the lines of the suggestion already made quite informally to the American ambassador in Paris, we are ready to join in the appointment of a commission of tariff experts to consider and report upon the whole subject of the tariff relations between France and the United States, with a view to undertaking the negotation of a treaty of reciprocity of the character contemplated in the proposed temporary agreement which accompanies the memorandum to which I have already referred.

Faithfully, yours,

Elihu Root.

Project of new commercial agreement.

The President of the United States of America and the President of the French Republic, animated by a desire to adjust the commercial relations between the two countries until a comprehensive commercial treaty can be agreed upon, have decided to conclude a temporary commercial agreement, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries, to wit:

  • The President of the United States of America, the Honorable Elihu Root, Secretary of State of the United States; and
  • The President of the French Republic, His Excellency J. J. Jusserand, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to the United States of America,

Who, after an exchange of their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon the following articles:

Article I.

In conformity with the authority conferred on the President of the United States in section 3 of the tariff act of the United States approved July 24, 1897, it is agreed on the part of the United States that the following products of the soil and industry of France imported into the United States shall, from and after the date when this Agreement shall be put in force, be subject to the reduced tariff rates provided by said section 3, as follows:

Argols, or crude tartar, or wine lees, crude, five per centum ad valorem.

Brandies, or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials, one dollar and seventy-five cents per proof gallon.

Champaign and all other sparkling wines, in bottles containing not more than one quart and more than one pint, six dollars per dozen; containing not more than one pint each and more than one-half pint, three dollars per dozen; containing one-half pint each or less, one dollar and fifty cents per dozen; in bottles or other vessels containing [Page 293] more than one quart each, in addition to six dollars per dozen bottles on the quantities in excess of one quart, at the rate of one dollar and ninety cents per gallon.

Still wines, and vermuth, in casks, thirty-five cents per gallon; in bottles or jugs, per case of one dozen bottles or jugs containing each not more than one quart and more than one pint, or twenty-four bottles or jugs containing each not more than one pint, one dollar and twenty-five cents per case, and any excess beyond these quantities found in such bottles or jugs shall be subject to a duty of four cents per pint or fractional part thereof, but no separate or additional duty shall be assessed upon the bottles or jugs.

Paintings in oil or water colors, pastels, pen and ink drawings, and statuary, fifteen per centum ad valorem.

Article II.

It is further agreed on the part of the United States that the modifications of the Customs and Consular Regulations set forth in the annexed diplomatic note from the Department of State to the French embassy at Washington, and made a part of the consideration of this Agreement, shall go into effect as soon as possible and not later than from the date when this Agreement shall be put in force.

Article III.

Reciprocally, it is agreed on the part of France that during the continuance in force of this Agreement the following articles of commerce, the products of the soil or industry of the United States, shall be admitted into France at the minimum rates of duty, to wit, not exceeding the following rates:

[Page 294]
French tariff No. Articles. Rate.
16 Meat, fresh: Francs.
Mutton Per 100 kilos 35.00
Pork do 25.00
Beef and other do 35.00
17 Meat, salted:
Pork (ham, bacon, etc.) do 30.00
Beef and other do 30.00
17 bis Pork butchers’ produce do 50.00
19 Canned meats do 15.00
30 Lard and its compounds do 25.00
ex 84 Table fruits, fresh:
Lemons, oranges, cedrats, and their varieties not mentioned do 5.00
Mandarin oranges do 10.00
Common table grapes do 8.00
Apples and pears—
For the table do 2.00
For cider and perry do 1.50
Other fruits, except hothouse grapes and fruits do 3.00
ex 85 Fruits, dried or Dressed (excluding: raisins):
Apples and pears—
For the table do 10.00
For cider and perry do 4.00
Prunes do 10.00
Other fruits do 5.00
ex 96 Coffee in the bean do 136.00
128 Common woods, logs do .65
Sawed or squared timber 80 millimeters or more in thickness do 1.00
Squared or sawed lumber exceeding 35 millimeters and less than 80 millimeters in thickness per 100 kilos. 1.25
Wood, sawed 35 millimeters or less in thickness do 1.75
129 Paving blocks do 1.75
130 Staves do 1.75
160 Hops do 30.00
174 ter Apples and pears crushed, or cut and dried do 1.50
ex 273 Sulphate of copper do 3.00
212 ter Rail of iron or steel per 100 kilos. 6.00
480 Top boots per pair 2.00
481 Boots, for men and women do 1.50
482 Shoes do .75
510 Steam engines, stationary and marine, without boilers; steam pumps; gas, petroleum, hot-air, and compressed-air engines, weighing:
250 kilos and more per 100 kilos 12.00
Less than 250 kilos do 20.00
511 Steam engines, semifixed or portable, including boilers do 13.00
512 Locomotives; traction engines:
Ordinary gauge do 15.00
Narrow gauge do 18.00
512 bis Hydraulic engines, wheel and piston; turbines; pumps; ventilators, weighing:
250 kilos and more per 100 kilos 10.00
Less than 250 kilos do 15.00
521 Printing machines do 6.00
522 Agricultural machines (motors not included) do 9.00
523 Sewing machines:
Stands and transmission gear do 8.00
Machines proper do 35.00
524 Dynamo-electric machines weighing: 13.00
5,000 kilos and upwards, and containing—
At least 50 per cent of cast iron do 13.00
Less than 50 per cent of cast iron do 20.00
From 2,000 kilos inclusive to 5,000 kilos exclusive, and containing—
At least 50 per cent of cast iron per 100 kilos 18.00
Less than 50 per cent of cast iron do 20.00
From 1,000 kilos inclusive to 2,000 kilos exclusive do 20.00
From 50 kilos inclusive to 1,000 kilos exclusive do 30.00
From 10 kilos inclusive to 50 kilos exclusive do 80.00
From 5 kilos inclusive to 10 kilos exclusive do 100.00
Less than 5 kilos do 110.00
525 Machine tools:
Heavy, weighing more than 1,000 kilos do 10.00
Medium, weighing 250 to 1,000 kilos do 16.00
Small and of precision, weighing less than 250 kilos do 50.00
525 bis General machinery: Transmission gearing; balances; scales; fixed railway stock; signals; presses; lifting apparatus, etc.; apparatus not mentioned, driven by mechanical force per 100 kilos 10.00
526 quater Open boilers; gasometers; recipients; stoves and caloriferes of sheet iron or steel, or of cast iron combined with sheet iron or steel per 100 kilos 8.00
536 Dynamo conductors and detached pieces, such as induction coils, solid or hollow, of metal surrounded by insulated copper; worked parts of copper, fitted or not, for electric machines, electric apparatus, electro-technical apparatus, transformers and other electrical purposes, weighing:
2,000 kilos and upwards Per 100 kilos 25.00
From 1,000 kilos inclusive to 2,000 kilos exclusive do 30.00
From 200 kilos inclusive to 1,000 kilos exclusive do 40.00
From 50 kilos inclusive to 200 kilos exclusive do 50.00
From 10 kilos inclusive to 50 kilos exclusive do 80.00
From 5 kilos inclusive to 10 kilos exclusive do 100.00
Less than 5 kilos do 110.00
537 Tools, with or without handles:
Of pure iron do 12.00
Of steel, or of iron tipped with steel do 22.00
Of copper do 30.00
559 Locksmith’s wares: Locks, padlocks; keys, iron bolts of all kinds, handles, hooks, hinges of iron or sheet iron, latches, slide bolts, and all other articles of rough iron, scoured or not, turned, filed or polished, for furniture, doors, and windows per 100 kilos 15.00
559 bis The same articles combined with copper or brass, or composed wholly of copper or brass per 100 kilos 20.00
579 Articles of nickel, alloyed with copper or zinc (German silver;, or of nickeled metals per 100 kilos 100.00
ex 614 Carriages, properly so called:
Carriages weighing 125 kilos or more do 50.00
Carriages weighing less than 125 kilos do 120.00
Velocipedes and parts thereof do 220.00
646 Toys, games, etc. do 60.00

Article IV.

It is further agreed on the part of France that the modifications of the Customs Regulations set forth in the annexed diplomatic note from the French embassy at Washington to the Department of State, and made a part of the consideration of this Agreement, shall go into effect as soon as possible and not later than from the date when this Agreement shall be put in force.

[Page 295]

Article V.

The provisions of Article I and III shall apply not only to products imported directly from the country of one of the Contracting Parties into that of the other, but also to products which are imported into the respective countries through a third country, so long as such products have not been subject to any further processes of manufacture in that country.

Article VI.

The present Agreement shall apply also to countries or territories which are now or may in the future constitute a part of the customs territory of either contracting party.

Article VII.

The High Contracting Parties mutually agree that the Commercial Agreement concluded between them on May 28, 1898, and in effect since June 1, 1898, and the Amendatory and Additional Agreement to the said Agreement concluded August 20, 1902, and in effect since August 22, 1902, shall be terminated, in all their provisions, simultaneously with the going into effect of the present Agreement.

Article VIII.

This Agreement shall take effect from and after the date of the President’s Proclamation which shall give effect thereto, and shall be and continue in force until one year from the date when either Party shall notify the other of its intention to terminate the same.

Done in duplicate in the English and French languages, at Washington, this —— day of ——, one thousand nine hundred and seven.

Exhibit A.

Annual value of concession by France of rates under agreement of 1898 on basis of imports from United States in calendar year 1905—French statistics.

[Page 296]
French tariff No. Articles. Per 100 kilos Value of concession.
Maximum Minimum. Difference.
Francs. Francs. Francs.
17 bis Pork butchers, produce 100.00 50.00 50.00 $71,815
19 Canned meats 20.00 15.00 5.00 1,649
30 Lard and its compounds 40.00 25.00 15.00 67,074
* ex 84 Table fruits, fresh:
Lemons, oranges, etc. 8.00 5.00 3.00
Mandarin oranges 15.00 10.00 5.00
Common table grapes 12.00 8.00 4.00
Apples and pears: Francs. Francs. Francs.
For the table 3.00 2.00 1.00 $2,083
For cider and perry 2.00 1.50 .50
Other fruits, except hothouse grapes and fruits 5.00 3.00 2.00
ex 85 Fruits, dried or pressed (excludmg raisins):
Apples and pears—
For the table 15.00 10.00 5.00 2,864
For cider and perry 6.00 4.00 2.00 6,228
Prunes 15.00 10.00 5.00 536
Other fruits 15.00 5.00 10.00 17,957
128 Common woods, logs 1.00 .65 .35
Sawed or squared timber 80 millimeters or more in thickness 1.50 1.00 .50 357
Squared or sawed lumber exceeding 35 millimeters and less than 80 millimeters in thickness 1.75 1.25 .50 1,435
Wood sawed 35 millimeters or less in thickness 2.50 1.75 .75 4,729
128 Walnut, sawn:
35 to 80 millimeters 1.75 1.25 .50 589
35 millimeters or less 2.50 1.75 .75 2,635
Other, sawn:
80 millimeters or more 1.50 1.00 .50 47,438
35 to 80 millimeters 1.75 1.25 .50 15,552
35 millimeters or less 2.50 1.75 .75 42,174
129 Paving blocks 2.50 1.75 .75
130 Staves 1.25 .75 .50 48,409
160 Hops 45.00 30.00 15.00
174 ter Apples and pears crushed, or cut and dried 2.00 1.50 .50
Total annual French revenue concession under agreement of 1898 333,524

Exhibit B.

Annual value of proposed concession by France of minimum rates on certain American articles now subject to maximum duties, enumerated in projet of agreement.

[Page 297] [Page 298]
French tariff No. Articles. Maximum. Minimum. Difference. Value of concession.
16 Meat, fresh: Francs. Francs. Francs.
Mutton per 100 kilos 50.00 35.00 15.00
Pork do 40.00 25.00 15.00
Beef and other do 50.00 35.00 15.00
17 Meat, salted:
Pork (ham, bacon, etc.) do 50.00 30.00 20.00 $614
Beef and other do 50.00 30.00 20.00 15
212 ter Rails of iron or steel do 7.00 6.00 1.00
480 Top boots per pair 2.50 2.00 .50
} 3,749
481 Boots, for men and women do 2.50 1.50 1.00
482 Shoes do 1.00 .75 .25
510 Steam engines, stationary and marine, without boilers; steam pumps; gas, petroleum, hot-air, and compressed-air engines, weighing:
250 kilos and more Per 100 kilos 18.00 12.00 6.00
} 4,714
Less than 250 kilos do 30.00 20.00 10.00
511 Steam engines, semifixed, or portable, including boilers per 100 kilos 17.00 13.00 4.00
512 Locomotives; traction engines:
Ordinary gauge do 20.00 15.00 5.00
Narrow gauge do 24.00 18.00 6.00
512 bis Hydraulic engines, wheel and piston; turbines; pumps; ventilators, weighing:
250 kilos and more per 100 kilos 15.00 10.00 5.00
} 8,106
Less than 250 kilos do 25.00 15.00 10.00
521 Printing machines do 8.00 6.00 2.00 2,047
522 Agricultural machines (motors not included) Per 100 kilos 15.00 9.00 6.00 282,520
523 Sewing machines:
Stands and transmission gear do 10.00 8.00 2.00
} $2,825
Machines proper do 50.00 35.00 15.00
524 Dynamo-electric machines, weighing:
5,000 kilos and upwards and containing—
At least 50 per cent cast iron, per 100 kilos 30.00 13.00 17.00
} 11,897
Less than 50–per cent cast iron, per 100 kilos 30.00 20.00 10.00
From 2,000 kilos inclusive to 5,000 kilos exclusive and containing—
At least 50 per cent cast iron, per 100 kilos 30.00 18.00 12.00
Less than 50 per cent cast iron, per 100 kilos 30.00 20.00 10.00
From 1,000 kilos inclusive to 2,000 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 30.00 20.00 10.00
From 50 kilos inclusive to 1,000 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 45.00 30.00 15.00
From 10 kilos inclusive to 50 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 120.00 80.00 40.00
From 5 kilos inclusive to 10 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 150.00 100.00 50.00
Less than 5 kilos do 150.00 110.00 40.00
525 Machine tools:
Heavy, weighing more than 1,000 kilos per 100 kilos 15.00 10.00 5.00
} 45,111
Medium, weighing 250 to 1,000 kilos per 100 kilos 20.00 16.00 4.00
Small and of precision, weighing less than 250 kilos per 100 kilos 70.00 50.00 20.00
525 bis General machinery: Transmission gearing; balances; scales; fixed railway stock; signals; presses; lifting apparatus, etc.; apparatus not mentioned, driven by mechanical force per 100 kilos 15.00 10.00 5.00 5,587
526 quater Open boilers; gasometers; recipients; stoves and caloriferes of sheet iron or steel, or of cast iron combined with sheet iron or steel per 100 kilos 12.00 8.00 4.00 1,724
536 Dynamo conductors and detached pieces, such as induction coils, solid or hollow, of metal surrounded by insulated copper; worked parts of copper, fitted or not, for electric machines, electric apparatus, electro-technical apparatus; transformers and other electrical purposes, weighing:
2,000 kilos and upwards, per 100 kilos 50.00 25.00 25.00
} 6,062
From 1,000 kilos inclusive to 2,000 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 50.00 30.00 20.00
From 200 kilos inclusive to 1,000 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 100.00 40.00 60.00
From 50 kilos inclusive to 200 kilos exclusive Per 100 kilos 100.00 50.00 50.00
From 10 kilos inclusive to 50 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 150.00 80.00 70.00
From 5 kilos inclusive to 10 kilos exclusive per 100 kilos 150.00 100.00 50.00
Less than 5 kilos do 150.00 110.00 40.00
537 Tools with or without handles:
Of pure iron do 18.00 12.00 6.00 557
Of steel, or of iron tipped with steel, per 100 kilos 27.00 22.00 5.00 3,383
Of copper per 100 kilos 35.00 30.00 5.00
559 Locksmith’s wares: Locks, padlocks; keys, iron bolts of all kinds, handles, hooks, hinges of iron or sheet iron, latches, slide bolts and all other articles of rough iron, scoured or not, turned, filed, or polished, for furniture, doors, or windows, per 100 kilos 20.00 15.00 5.00 577
559 bis The same articles combined with copper or brass, or composed wholly of copper or brass per 100 kilos 25.00 20.00 5.00
579 Articles of nickel, alloyed with copper or zinc (German silver) or of nickeled metals per 100 kilos 150.00 100.00 50.00 10,615
ex 614 Carriages, properly so called:
Carriages weighing 125 kilos or more, per 100 kilos 60.00 50.00 10.00
} $1,610
Carriages weighing less than 125 kilos, per 100 kilos 150.00 120.00 30.00
Velocipedes and parts thereof, per 100 250.00 220.00 30.00 3,868
646 Toys, games, etc Per 100 kilos 75.00 60.00 15.00 625
Total 396,209

  1. Note—The rates in Exhibit A are those applied in the calendar year 1905. The law of July 18, 1906, increased the maximum rates as follows:

    French tariff No. Articles. Per 100 kilos.
    Maximum. Minimum. Difference.
    ex 84 Table fruits, fresh: Francs. Francs. Francs.
    Lemons, oranges, etc. 15.00 5.00 10.00
    Mandarin oranges 25.00 10.00 15.00
    Common table grapes 25.00 8.00 17.00
    Apples and pears:
    For the table: 5.00 2.00 3.00

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