Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-03
THREATENED COMMERCIAL war.

THREATENED COMMERCIAL WAR.
Is the world to witness a great com
mercial war growing out of antagonistic
economic conditions? This question IS
suggested by the attitude of European
countries toward the United States in
regard to the new tariff law and by the
course of the British government in re-
spect to it's treaties with Germany and
Belgium.
The latest published information as to
the objections of foreign governments to
features of our tariff law affecting their
interests doeS not add much to what
was already known, but it serves TO
show somewhat more cmphatically the
temper of some of these foreign govern
mcnts. Their objections or protests, II
is true. are not made in menacing Ian
guage. They are not threatening in tone
and yet it may fairly be inferred that
the governments which make them
strongly feel that they may have to re-
sent in a practical way what they obvi-
ously regard as an attack upon their
interests. There is no doubt that this liz
the feeling in Germany and France and
Belgium and it would seem to exist to
a somewhat less degree in switzerland
and Italy and Austria-Ilungary. We
have heretofore said in reference to this
matter that we did not believe 1T would
be possible to unite the countries of
continental Europe in Il commercial war
against the United States and we see
no reason to change this view, but thai
there may be individual action on the
part of some or all of these countries, by
way of retaliation, is by no means i'm
probable. AS to some of them, indeed,
they cannot 90 to Il much greater extent
in discriminating against American prod
ucts than they have already done. 80
far as our breadstuifs are concerned
most of those nations cannot for the
present increase their adverse tariffs,
ever il some of them are not compelled
to reduce them. There are, however,
American products which they can
strike, though not without doing very
nearly if not quite as much injury to
their own people as they would infiict
upon the American producers.
What seems to be regarded as a matter
of great significance is the action OF the
British government looking to the ter
mination OF commercial treaties with
Germany and Belgium. This step is
essential to the carrying out of the pro-
posed trade policy between England and
her colonies. When the Canadian gov
,rpr,opt in aorranpinp its tariff pTo-
posed determinations in favor Of English
goods, there was Il protest from some
of the countries having commercial
| treaties with England which provided
| against such discrimination. Hence 1t
| became necessary. in order to carry out
the colonial trade policy, that these
treaties be terminated. The British
government suggests new treaties. but
probably with no serious intention of
negotiating them. Its action in the
matter is variously Interpreted, but its
object appeared entirely clear. 1t I'M
d0ubtedly c~OntemplateS a departure
from the existing fiscal system, so far
as the British colonies are concerned,
but there is no reason to think that it
means Il tranSltlOn from Tree traue 10
protection, although there is unquestion-
ably a very considerable sentiment in
England favorable to such transition.
But it is significant Of possible changes
that may affect the trade of the world.
This is distinctly pointed out in the
views expressed by Nj. Meline's paper,
the %Republique Franchise, which pre-
diets a general rise of European tariffs
against British and colonial products. A
commercial combination of the nations
of continental Europe against British
products cannot be regarded as improb-
able, if the plan of n British colonial
customs union is carried out. In such
a commercial conflict the United States
would have a very great interest, since
it could hardly fail to nave results very
much to the advantage of this country.
1t would afford us the opportunity to
largely increase Il rad in manufac-
tured products in the markets of Europe.