Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
SHAW At BIG BANQUET
Guest Of Cleveland, Ohio,
Chamber of Commerce.
AVIS AN EOC
MAKES AN ADDRESS
TALKED AT LENGTH OF NON
PARTISAN STATEsMANsHIP.
japanese Minister Expected, But De-
tanned in Washington by Ill
Health-other Speeches.

CLEVELAND. Ohio. May a0.-The fifty
sixth annual dinner of the chamber of
commerce was held here tonight. with 300
persons in attendance Japanese Minister
kogoro Takahira was prevented by i'll
health from being present. but in letter
deferred to Ohio and to the services of an
Ohio man. the late John A Bingham, for
merly minister to Japan.
Leslie NJ Shaw. Secretary of the Treas
Try, spoke on .Non-partisan Statesman
ship as follows:
1T may not be out of place at this time
to compare the International commercial
policies of the four great commercial coun-
tries of the world. The united kingdom
opens her markets to all equal terms.
and reserves to her own people no advan-
tages whatsoever. France and Germany
serve to their own people, by means of
protective tariffs advantages on many ar
ticieS. and they also grant to the people Of
some countries advantages IN their mar
kets over others. Both these countries dis
eliminate in favor of their own people in
their own markets. and they discriminate
also as between the people of foreign coua-
tries. They both have what is known as
most favored nation clauses in Their com
mercial reaties and thus make reciprocal
trade relations with certain countries.
granting and receiving advantages over
others.
1.-The United States follows the example
of France and Germany IN that she grants
to her own people advantages on very
many articles, and follows the example CT
Great Britain by making no distinction as
between foreign countries Barring q dozen
or so uniRportant articles. the United
States admits the products of all foreign
countries uhe republic of Cuba alone ox-
cepteGt on equal terms.
German-American Treaty
There is now IN force a commercial
treaty between the United States and Ger
many, by which the latter. in cons:dera-
ton of certain slight concessions. agrees not
TO discriminate against US; and l can not
believe that the newspaper reports are true
that Germany conte-nplates terminating
this arrangement unless the United States
viii agree to discriminate against other
countries and in her favor.
Il cannot believe that any country Sc
riously considers putting in operation a
revision of tariffs imposing new and severe
determinations against the people OF the
United States. Such action would be most
unfortunate from every point of view 10
both countries. Certain it is the United
States has done nothing. and will do moth
lpS, to invite such a course. If. however,
any considerable number OF foreign coun-
tries should unite with those now discrim-
mating against US, then there will remain
for the people of the United States four
possible policies. Without expressing an
opinion to their relative merits. l Will
state them as concisely as possible Z he
responsibility of determination rests alone
with Congress.
Policy of United States.
First The United States could continue
her present policy of reserving to her own
people some advantages in her own mar
kets and making determinations against
others. There are those who advocate this
course.
Second We could yield to the demand of
those countries which threaten adverse
tariff legislaton,~ and give to their people
material advantages over those which make
no such d:scriminat ons. 1t mus be borne
in mind. however. that this proposition liz
wolves determinations against other coun-
tries, for, he It remembered special fayors
cannot be granted to some as against 9TH
eTs without imposing corresponding bur-
denS upon others aga:nsi some. But
there are those N this country, [ am told.
who favor material reduct ons in present
tariffs merchandise com ne from certain
countries and the enfoTceme ut of present
rates against others. / TANK they call
this reciprocity.
Reduce Tariff Schedules.
Third. We could materially reduce all
our tariff schedules. leaving it to the mag
nanimity of others to emulate our seneros-
ty. There aye those. and | am told there
are many, who advocate this policy. w tn
out expressing an opinion as to the merits
of the proposition, venture TO suggest that
even the free trade policy of Great Britain
does not exempt her from Determinations
by countries which adopt the d 81 rirnina ing
policy. nor from the demand that the United
States shall join in discrimination aga INST
her.
Fourth The only remaining cou Sc sos-
sible to be pursued is for the United st ates
make GiScTi0 J against the
tries which discriminate against us. AS
between those who advocate no dscrimira-
tons of any kind, regardless of pr3vocl-
tiors, and those who advocate dscr;m ma
tons in favor of those who discr inmate
against us. this may possibly afford a
ground of compromise. At least the. e are
those who advocate the adoption of this
policy. | have heard 1t intimated that an
amendment to our present tariff laws is
likely to be proposed at the next SESSION
(but with what prospect of passage 1 can
not say. substantially as follows:
Proposed Tariff Laws.
% Be it enacted. that whenever any coun
try grants to the people of any other coun-
try privileges within its markets which are
wlthholden from the people of the United
States, then and in all such instances the
tariff duties on all merchandise coming
from those countries showing such prefer
ences shall be - per cent higher than pro
vded In the schedules of existing tariff
laws
This would constitute a maximum and
minimum tariff. the maximum to be en-
forced only against such countries as exact
Il maximum rate against u.s.
Il understand that those who advocate
this course meet the charge that ii means
tariff war with the suggestion that the
United Staes will not first declare such
war. Being forced to follow the example
of other countries is not the equivalent of
declaration of war, while yielding to the
demand that the United States shall dis
eliminate against those who do not dis
criminate against her might involve neu-
trail powers in universal tariff war. Such
a war would necessarily harm US. but 1t
would harm more seriously still those who