The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-06-24
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
 EXPANSION

Time was when diplomacy concerned itself chiefly with world politics and in ternational alliances. Conditions have changed, however, since commercialism and industralsm became the dominant forces in the worlds affairs. The Ma chiavelians of Europe have turned their attention to economies. Not many years ago." says the Vienna cor respondent of the London Times, any body who approached the statesmen at the head of the various European chan celleries with such questions as the su gar bounties, the shipping trust, the promotion by diplomacy of purely com mercial and industrial interests, would have been regarded as a very tiresome person. Matters affecting trade and in dustry were relegated to technical de- partments and minor functionaries. It is astonishing how all that has changed, and that. too, without imperiling the peace of the world
 Diplomacy will naturally concern it. self with those interests which are of paramount importance. It is not aston ishing, therefore, that in an age in which the whole world is looking for business opportunities-an age in which a few nations, by reason of their supe- rior resources and equipment-are out stripping their rivals, statesmen should find the study of economies more prof. itable than intrigues over world poli- tics. The states whose industrial and commercial development has been slow and inadequate are now confronted with problems which press for imme- diate solution Upon the solution of these problems the very existence of some nations depends. International alliances and world politics are of little importance compared with the question of preserving national industries and trade The diplomatists of Europe must devise means by which the indus trial decline of the old world may be ar rested. They must originate measures by which their peoples may retain fair share of the worlds trade, Unless they can do this their countries are doomed and sooner or later must take their places among the dead or dying nations. Is European diplomacy capa- ble of rehabilitating the industry and commerce of the old world? If it is.
 
 complsh the result?
 It may be assumed that there is no sentiment in business, that trade is merciless. The prosperous nations ap- parently have no compassion for those who are in straitened circumstances. For several months efforts have been made to secure reduction of the ta- riff on articles imported into the United States from Cuba Here is a little is- land to which Americans have given independence, and in which 1t might be thought, the people of the United States feel genuine interest. President Roose- welt has appealed to congress to give the Cubans a chance to sell their sugar to American consumers without loss to the producers. There is no indication that his appeal will be needed. Ameri- cans engaged in the sugar industry in- sist that reduction of the duty will be disastrous to them. The president bases his appeal on considerations of national honor, on sound economic principles and on American friendship for the little nation which the United States has created. The Cuban govern ment pleads for relief and asserts that the island will be ruined if it's request for reciprocity in trade is denied. But the senators to whom MT Roosevelt has appealed are unmoved Tn a gen.