611.5131/538

The Ambassador in France ( Herrick ) to the Secretary of State

No. 7569

Sir: I have the honor to refer to my cable of to-day’s date35 and to report that I was informed at the Foreign Office this morning that, for various reasons, it is highly improbable that the new tariff Bill will be enacted, at any rate until the end of the summer vacation. The Chamber of Deputies will continue to discuss the tariff for the present during a part of the morning sessions, but, as it is imperative to pass the new electoral law and the Army reorganization Bill before the vacation period, the tariff Bill will from now on receive but scanty attention. I was further informed that, while the opposition to various parts of the tariff Bill is not as serious as has been represented by the press, the Chamber of Deputies has a keen desire not to pass it at present as it seems likely that its terms may increase the cost of living, and the Deputies are far from anxious to bring about this result before the elections of next May. My informant gave it as his opinion, therefore, that the new tariff will not become law before next January and that it will not go into effect until after the elections, in other words, a year from the present time.

My informant stated that, in spite of the above circumstances, the commercial negotiations with various countries would continue. The German representatives have just returned to Paris to continue their long-drawn out negotiations. The temporary accords which now govern commercial relations between France and Germany expire at the end of this month, but it is thought likely that they will be renewed.

The above-mentioned developments make the present time, in my opinion, a no less favorable one for the initiation of commercial negotiations between the United States and France, but it is obvious that if the new tariff is not going to be enacted until a year from now, time is no longer of the essence of the contract.

I have [etc.]

Myron T. Herrick
  1. Not printed.