The morning call., 1891-04-20
BRITISH RETALIATION.

The London Economist of March 2Sth
contains communication from William j.
Harris, in which a policy of retaliation
against the United States is advocated.
Mr.. Harris considers the Mckinley tariff,
including the reciprocity feature, more hos
tile to Great Britain than to any other cOun-
try, and concludes that Great Britain ought
to say TO the Americans: We cannot re-
ceive further imports from you on the old
terms until tariff is offered to US by your
Government which we can accept on behalf
both of our colonies and ourselves"
Mr. Harris goes Oh to show how the
policy of retaliation may be carried out.
He would tax American corn aud wheat,
but not American cotton or other materials
of manufacture. He says that other COun-
tries besides the United States produce an
average surplus of 224,GG0,000 bushels OF
wheat, while Great Britain, one year with
another, only needs 100000 bushels. In
respect TO corn and meat, be thinks Great
Britain even more independent than as to
wheat. IN support of his position he prints
a table which shows that in twelve articles
of export the United States finds Great
Britain not only its greatest purchaser but
a purchaser equal TO about tWo-thirds Of all
other countries
The weak point in the argument Of Mr..
Harris is that he considers the question from
q national rather than from an interna-
tiODal point of view. So long as the pro-
ductiOn of wheat one year with another IS
not greater than the demand il is mere
matter OF convenience whether we sell to
Great Britain or TO other countries. Ii
Great Britain should tax American wheat
and thereby keep it out Of her market she
would import her average of 10000 600
bushels from other wheat-exporting cpun-
tries. This would leave a void for American
wheat to FILL France, Germany and other
European countries might send their wheat
to England and supply their domestic wants
from the United States. The worlds market
for wheat would not be affected by En-
glands tax upon American wheat. English
writer's apparently cannot understand that
England does not Tx the price of wheat
Being the largest importer the record of the
price fixed by the amount sent is made III
England. But every wheat producing and
vheat-c0Esuming country helps to fix the
price. 1t is in England's power to change
the course Of American wheat vessels, but
not to shut other wheat markets than her own
against them. IfEurope should combine with
Great Britain 10 tax American wheat to
prohiGitCry pOintthe effect would bea rise of
the European price. Present product is based
upon present prices To call out larger
production an increase in price would be
necessary. A material advance in the price
of wheat and other agricultural products
would involve corresponding increase in
the cost of living. Rates of wages now about
at the starvation point, would necessarily re-
Spond TO an increase in the cost of living
higher bread necessitates higher wages
higher wages increase the cost Of goods, and
every increase in the European cost of goods
improves the American chances of CON-
peliDg in common markets. A European
tax ON American agricultural products
would set the United States more deter
minedly than ever to the work OF supplying
the countries on the American continent
with the manufactured goods now largely
imported from Europe. 1t would fix our
hold on our own markets, from the fact that
persons now engaged in agricultural pur-
suits would enter other occupations. But
there is not the slightest danger of Euro
pean combination against American wheat.
The vast standing armies of Europe stand
in the way of such combinations.