New-York tribune., 1908-08-05
FREE TRADE CONGRESS-
Economic Necessity, Says Dir. As
quith- th-4merican Present.

London. Aug 4-The International Free Trade
Congress opened in this city to-day. with Lord
Welby in the chair. Delegates We're present from
the United States. Frarfce Germany. Belgium. Hol-
land Denmark. Italy and Great Britain. In his
address of welcome Lord Weby said the pros
poets for free trade were somewhat gloomy, and
that the idea of protection advancing in
aggressive but in spite of this free trade
ultima tely must prevail.
Free Trade and Its Bearings International
Relations the subject for discussion. in
troduced by Winston Churchill president Of the
Board of Trade. who argued that Great Britain
object lesson. She had pursued the free
trade policy, yet she remained prosperous and
powerful.
Harvey NJ Sheppard. o the American Free Trade
League. took part in the discussion which fol-
lowed the minister's speech. He urged the need
of continuing the influence of education in the d.
rection Of economic disarmament prelude TO
military disarmament. and said he thought this
education was particularly needed in the British
colonies. where protection had many adherents
Among the other Americans present were Pro-
fessor William G. Sumner, of Yale University;
Franklin Pierce. John De Witt Warner and Law
Purdy. of New York, and Lewis F. Post OF
Chicago
At the Hotel Cecil tonight the delegates TO the
Free Trade Congress were the guests at dinner
given by Colleen Club Lord Welby presided
Prime Minister Asquth was the principal guest
and large number Of the Liberal members OF the
House of Commons we're present
Reviewing the history OF free trade and examin-
tective tariff exists-the United States France and
Germany-Mr. Asquith said II would be found that
Americas foreign commerce a comparatively
insignificant factor. But who could deny that a
large Of the credit for its abounding produc-
tiveness due a wise foresight which obtained
a complete freedom Of interchange between the cot
ton growing states OF hte South. the corn fields of
the Middle West and the West and the manufact-
urfng communities of the East.
Great Britain's adhesion to Free Trade. declared
the Prime Minister, vCuld continue to her and to
many other countries an economic necessity ars-
ing from the simple of her inability to produce
home even under the shelter of the highest
insuperable tariffs the protectionst archi-
could design, requisite food for people and
indispensa bic material for industries
NO sane Free Trader conceived" Mr.. AS
Quith continued, that could be as far ahead
of our great Industrial rivals were ff-
teen twenty years ago. II is tribute to our
keep so far ahead Admittedly the tariffs of the
protectionist countries did trade substantial
injury, but the experience widened the
more we realized the wisdom of Sir Robert Peels
advice that the best weapon with which 10 fight
protectionfst tariffs free imports. He never
doubted ability of the free trade fiscal system
10 provide revenue which every civilized country
needed for the purposes of social reform"
John De Witt Warner. Dr.. Theodore Barth, of
Berlin, and Yves Guyot the French political econ
omist, also spoke.