CANADA AMD FRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 April 1908, Page 5

CANADA AMD FRANCE.

COMMERCIAL TREATY. BY IELEGEAm—PItEBS ASSOCIATION—COI'VI? IGnV. •Ottawa, April 9. ; Canada's intermediate tariff 'mil. b'o applied to French goods shipped direct from France or through British ports; otherwise the maximum 'tariff will bo imposed. .... AGAINST AMERICAN-CARRIED' TRADE. The above cabled statement marks a. departure from the. terms of . the FrancoPCanadian Commercial Treaty as originally published. The London Press in November' stated' that tho enjoyment , of the Treaty advantages is mado conditional upon the dircct conveyance of tho goods without transhipment from French to Canadian ports and vice versa." Tho idea that this was to. apply to. dircct shipments only was strengthened by the recently cabled announcement of ; the Canadian Government that the Allah Line woiildi undertake a direct service between Canada and I'ranee, at a subsidy.of-100,000 dollars... As a matter of. fact, the Allan Lino has already a direct service botween Montreal and Havre in tho summer,', though in the winter it runs between Havre and' St. John; the subsidy is 100,000 dollars a. year on tho basis of 18 trips annually. It would also seem that the real object of the direct shipments stipulation is to. hit at. the 'United States- trade; for ono reads that "tho Tatric' (Montreal) especially commends the clause confining the advantages of the convention to direct shipments—it says it is about time, that. Qanaaian commerce ceased to pass through Now York and Boston." The "Montreal Witness" says that the convention would seem to afford scopo for an immense increase of the trade between. Canada and France without impeding the develoumeut of'trade .with the British Isles. "Lo Canada" (Montreal) regards tho Treaty as an admission'of Canada's absolute autonomy in fiscal matters. ' Under the Treaty, the following articlesenjoy the' benefit of tho French minimum tariffs, and the lowest Customs rates applicable now or in future, .to the like products of other foreign countries Horses, live cattle, and poultry, fresh and salt meat, preserves, extracts of meat, animal fat, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, honey, fish and-fish products, cereals, potatoes, fruits, • seeds, preserved fruits, timber, straw, vegetables, fodder, cement, coal, iron, steel, copper, load, nickel, yarns, paper, cardboard, skins, hides, leather, boots, shoes, gloves, peltries, locomotives, agricultural machinery (motors not included), machinery and'tools, articles of iron, steel, • and nickel, bentwood and other furniture and wooden wares of different kinds, pianos, organs,, carriages, tramways, ships, typewriters, etc. Tho following articles of French and French-colonial produce aro allowed tho benefit of tho Canadian intermediate tariff, and .of the lowest duties applicable, now or hereafter, to the like. products of other foreign countries Canned . mpats, cheese, cocoa l or ckocolnto preparations, seeds, fruit trees, grapo vines, tomatoes, pickles,' dates, figs, and other dried fruits, preserved fish, confectionery, spirits, syrups, perfumes, photographs, and other forms of artistic reproduction, medical preparations and drugs, soaps, pomades, inks, oils, : tablo ware, cement, glass, manufactured articles in metals, watches, clocks, and parts of the same,' needles, pins, buckles, and clasps, cutlery, locomotives, and 'motor cars, telephone ' aud telegraph instruments, furniture, lncc and embroideries, women's and children's dress goods, wearing apparel, and ready-made clothing, and similar articles, pianofortes, organs,' and musical instruments of all kinds, skins, ornaments, fans; dolls, toys, gloves, feathers, jewellery, precious stones and imitations thereof, lead pencils, pens, and penholders, tobacco. pipes, magic lanterns etc. . ' , . A special tariff is fixed for certain French products, the most important of which aro wines, champagnes, books, medicinal, chemical, and pharmaceutical preparations, embioidoriea, velvets, ribbons, and silk manufactures. , '