New-York tribune., 1910-01-20
THE TARIFF PRocLAM4TfoNs.

Il II n AM AtCG La i O-' ~
The tariff proclamations issued on
Tuesday by President Taft discredit the
foolish forecasts of those who argued in
duStriOusly last summer that the maxi.
mum schedule of the Payne law was in
tended to apply-and would apply-to
the great bulk of our imports from
foreign countries The Tribune dis
missed such forecasts as fanciful because
it could not interpret a demand for Il
fair exchange of commercial courtesies
as a challenge 10 an international tariff
war, and felt that other countries would
see that it was as much to their advan--
tage as il is to ours to pursue the policy
of just and equal treatment. There are
some countries which desire TO make
trade arrangements TO suit themselves
alone and to exact favors which they
are unwilling to return. Such demands
have compelled the United States in self
defence TO adopt the dual schedule sys-
TEN. But the normal American policy
remains what it has always been-that
of offering our market to all nations
opening their markets 10 US as freely
have always been confident that most
foreign countries would prefer to deal
with us on the natural most favored
nation basis and the proclamatons
JCst issued give a substantial assurance
that friendly relations with the great
ma ajority Of our customers abroad will
remain undisturbed.
The arrangements so far completed
cover only European trade. The United
Kingdom, Italy. Russia Spain, Switzer-
land and Turkey have manifested their
intention not to discriminate against
American products. They take together
more than half of our exports to Europe.
In the fiscal year 190S'09 our total sales
to European countries amounted in value
To S1.146. .7755, ,321. Sales TO the five coun-
tries named wee as follows: United
Kingdom. $514.627, ,365; Italy, s5S,509-
59S; Russia (European), S15,633 115
Spain. S19619O03; Switzerland, $3.50
136-a total of 5000. 1887. From pres
ent indications the only countries in Eu-
rope likely to hold out for one-sided
bargain-which would commit the United
States to admitting their products here
on terms more favorable than they grant
our prOducts-are Germany and France.
Germany bought from us in 190S-O9
goods valued at $3.50 ,324. 40 and France
goods valued at SOS. .764 262-a total of
S;;;44, ,0SS, ,4021. Canada excepted. there
seems to be outside Of Europe no dis
position on the part Of any nation or
seml-independent sovereignty 10 dis
criminate against us in exchanges Our
sales in the foreign market i'll 1903 90
amounted TO S1,613011, ,1Oi. Only a little
over one-fifth of this commerce is now
seriously threatened by tariff disagree
ments and determinations, and the pros
pect is that Germany and France, find
ing themselves III an isolated minority,
will soon abardol their discriminatory
programme.
In that event the United States will
have won signal victory in the cause
of equity In International trade relations.
The principle for which it stands is lin-
assailable. II simply Insists on 1.-The
square deal. If Germany and France
want 10 enjoy the tariff favors which we
grant 10 the United Kingdom. Italy,
Spain and other friendly nations they
should be prepared to treat us as cour-
teously as the other countries do. The