Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-06
SIGNS OF TARIFF WAR
VIEWS OF LUzzATTI, ITALIAN
MINISTER OF FINANCE.
Mutual Benefit, He Contends, is to Be
Gained Only by Reciprocity In
Trade Relations.

The Russlan-German Messenger. in its
issue Of July I. 1858, urges. in its leading
editorial. the Importance Of nations get
ting the opinions of distinguished disinter
ested experts in all their efforts to establish
reciprocity in their trade relations. The
Italian minister of finance. Luzzatti. says
the Messenger. Is such an expert In an
essay from his pen, published in a leading
Viennese journal, he deals with the dan
gers that are likely to arise from too
careless consideration of the mutual inter-
ests and relations involved in the forma-
ton of treaties of reciprocity, particularly
those affecting trade. He says it is not
good policy to pull down an old house till
a new one has been built: in other words.
it Is far from wise to break from an old
trade treaty before the new one Is IN force;
In this way nations will be able to avoid
the tariff wars that were never known to
benefit anybody, least OF all those engaged
therein. The spirit of equity. he says,
counts for much in International affairs.
even when dealing with the weak as well
as with the strong. 1t carries the farthest
and lasts the longest The word reciprocity,
or what the words stands for-mutual BEN
efit-is now an axiom in the commercial
political world. 1t alone can prevent the
awful stupidity of a tariff war.
Writing of a possible tariff war between
Germany and Russia, M Luzzatti says:
suppose Germany GOES put maximum
tariff on Russian cereals? Who will be
benefited thereby? Hungary. Roumania.
Argentina. the United States and others
not Germany or Russia II it puts its max
imal tariff on all impOrtations of grain It
will have on its hands universal tariff
war, and that for 50 powerful and envied
state would be the worst thing possible"
Germany must See.I continues the Italian
statesman. that II VIM invoke universal in
dustrial opposition II the bundesrath does
not reduce the tariff rates some points be-
low those established by the reichstag's
minimal II It does net do this. 1t will be
found wanting in the demands OF duty.
There Is no lack OF ways and means to
make good the losses to the nations pro-
and paid taxes are reduced, etc. Who,
for the sake Of g few, cents. would wish to
plunge Europe OF the world into such
war? INDUSTRIAL peace Is worth every
thing and every EFFORT, Government must
see that the absence OF trade treaties may
mean war.
AS In politics, continues the distinguished
statesman, SO in Industrial life. danger and
the desire for gain must be kept In the
right relations to each other. At present.
In Europe there arc signs Of tariff war.
and yet the chance to win r. small and
might be secured by a much cheaper pro-
cess This IL 80 self-evident. he contends,
that 1t must appeal to all except one-sided
or blinded Industrial leaders. It Il unwise
to let the peace OF the world depend upon
people who want to try their newly In
vented explosives. who for the sake of
these would let loose the dogs OF war.
Even II the cereaiIraaatns farmer II In
him in some way tho amount he loses By
the reduced rates. Besides. foreign im-
ports can be aided by means of reduced
railroad rates. To find compensation for