The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21
SHAW ON TRADE RELATIONS.
OUTLINES POSSIBLE HDEFENSES
AGAINST DISCRIMIN4ffON.
But Declares That This Country VIII DO
Nothing TO Provoke Other Countries
10 Bar Our G00ds-Thinks Ger
many VIII Not End Treaty With U.s.

But Declares That This country VIII 10
Nothing TO Provoke Other countries
TO Bar Our Goods-Thinks Ger
many VIII Not End Treaty With Us.
CLEVELAND May 20.-Secretary OF the
Treasury Leslie NJ Shaw laid the corner
stone Of the new Federal building here TINS
afternoon. Congressman Theodore f. Bur
ton was the principal speaker, and Il owe
snd military parade preceded the dedication
TON ght the Secretary was the guest OF 'he
CLEVELAND Chamber of Commerce ana
made a speech in which he discussed the
commercial policy of the o2uh'r!' .~
Secretary Shaw said;
1t may not lie out Of place at TINS time
20 compare the ihteinatlonai coIiihei go
policies of the four great commerce. I'm
tries of the world. Tie United hillb.oh'
opens her markets to all on e.iuI' tI,t,
tares whatsoever. France and Germany
reserve to their own people, by means o.
protective tariffs, advantages on mary
articles. and they also grant 10 the peppie
OF some COUNT les Gdvhilta sns IA ~ ria.
markets over others. Both these countries
discl inmate in favor Of their own people
in their own markets and they discriminate
also ~. between the people Of foreign couh-
tries. They both have what Is Known as
most favored nation CLAUSE IN .nu. i Ia
trade relations with certain countries
granting and receiving advantages over
others. u A., o,,,,,,e
Of France and Germany In that she grant.
10 her own people adranta gei on very many
articles, and follows tie example OF N!etI
b. itein by making no distinction as between
foreign countries! Barring Dozen or 70
unimportant TT iclc', The nhed State7
admits the products a. t'i io!pls 90 ,ntl
tries (the Republic q 'u''d "''he e"'eP'eN"
on equal terms. .;,,
"The,e il now in force { commetclal
treaty between the United states ana Ter.
insny by which the latter, IN CONSIDERATION OF
certa in slight concessions, u grees not 70 us
triminate against Us; and | cannot beneNe
that the newspaper reports are true ttal
Germany contemplate8 terminating thl5
arren cement unless the United States VIII
agree to disci inmate galnst othcr countries
and in her favor. -...,......,.;
o,lsly considers putting In operation
revision of tariffs imposing new ana severe
discrim nations against the people q the
United States. Such action would be most
unfortunate from every point , pa N1s ri,e "a
States has done nothing. and VII 90 noth-
ing, to invite such - urse. Ii, however
any considerable numser CT foreign g IN
tries should unite with those discrimiha'i,s
against us, then there "lll rena ia loi we
Without expressing an opinion US to their
relative merits. I viii state them as con.
cisely as possi. lie. abe respc h5iciiity OF
determination rests alone with c ngtess.
-First-lhe United states could continue
her present policy Of reserving 10 her own
people SC me advantages IN her own markets.
and making no GiScrimlnatl2nS against
others. there are those who advc cate this
course.
. ri which threaten adverse
tariff legislation, and give I" Their people
material advantages over these which
make no such Determinations us. 1t must
be borne in mind however that TINS pEopo-
sition involves Determinations against other
countries, for, be it remembered, special
favors cannot be granted To- some as against
others without imposing corresponding
burdens upon others as against some But'
there are those in this country, am told.
who favor material reductions in present
tariffs on merchandise coming from certain
countries and the enforcement OF present
rates as against others. ! think they call
this reciprocity. ~ -,
aThird-We could materially reduce all
our tariff schedules leaving 1t 10 the mag
nanimity of others 10 emulate our gen
erosity. There are those and am told there
are many who advocate this policy. Vita
out expressing an opinion Us to the merit.
that even the free trfde policy of Great
Britain does not exempt her from dis
ordinations by countries which adopt tne
discriminating policy, nor from inc 1te-
mand that the United States shall join In
determinations against her.
"Fourth--The only remaining course pos
eible to be pursued is for the United States
to make Determinations against the
countries which discriminate against US.
As between those who advocate no discrim-
nations Of any kind, regardless OF provo
cations and those who advocate discrimi-
D,tionc in favor Of those who discriminate
against us, this may possibly afford ground
CT compromise. At least there are those
who advocate the adoption of this policy.
/ have heard it intimaled that an amend
be proposed at the next session tbut VITO
what prospect OF passage l cannot say,
substantially az follows
BE il enacted that whenever anr country
grants to the people of any Other cGun,ry
withholden from the people of II" United
States. then and IN ALL such instances. the
tsrif duties on all merchandise coming from
.haii be .--- per cent. higher than provided in
the schedules Of existing tariff laws
This would constitute 4 maximum and
minimum tariff, TIC maximum TO be en-
forced only against such countries as eX-
act q maximum rate against US,
Il understand that those who advocate
iris course meet the charge that it means
tsrif war. with the suggestion that the
United States will not first declare such
war. Being forced to follow the example Of
other countries il not the equivalent of
declaration of var, while yielding 10 tho
demand that the United States shall dis
criminate against those who do not els
eliminate against her might involve neutral
Powers in a universal tariff war. Such q
war would necessarily harm us but it would
harm more seriously still those who drove
us into it. The United States prefers TO
treat all alike, and fully appreciates like