Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1897

Mr. Porter to Mr. Sherman.

Embassy of the United States,
Paris, June 28, 1897. (Received July 12.)

No. 26.]

Sir: A few days ago the committee on custom duties of the Chamber of Deputies adopted what is known under the name of” proposition Jonnard,” which makes the following changes in the articles of the tariff concerning pork products:

• Art. 17. Salted pork, hams, and bacon, 30 francs instead of 25 francs.
• Art. 17 bis. Hog products (chacuterie), 70 francs instead of 25 francs.
• Art. 30. Lard, 25 francs instead of 14.50 francs.

The committee is composed of members of the majority, which seems to favor any change in the tariff increasing the duty on American meat products. An indication of this feeling is shown in a bill of a rather singular character which was introduced in the House on the 3d instant.

In the argument which precedes this bill it is stated, among other things: That American farmers fatten their hogs on unhealthy detritus and even filth (immondices); that the new tariff scheme of the United States Government ought to attract the attention of the French legislator; that the vote of this scheme is certain and that its effect will be to shut out from the United States nearly all the French goods which are now sold there; and that the only means of preventing the United States from increasing the duty on French goods is to retaliate by imposing higher duties on goods imported from the United States.

To that end the bill proposes the following changes:

Salted pork, etc., 50 francs instead of 25 francs.

Hog products, 80 francs instead of 25 francs.

Canned meats, 40 francs instead of 20 francs under the general tariff, and 60 francs instead of 15 francs under the minimum tariff, the one now applied to us according to the agreement of 1893.

Meat extracts, 80 francs instead of 40 francs.

A separate article provides for doubling the duties on American goods imported into France in case higher duties were charged in the United States on French goods. But it is hardly likely that a bill expressing such extreme views will be taken into serious consideration.

I have talked with the most influential members of the ministry about these measures, and feel assured from what they tell me unofficially that the Government will not support these bills and that they are not likely to pass. The progress of all such measures will be carefully watched and any important progress reported.

I have, etc.

Horace Porter.