The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-13
PUBLISHERS URGE
JUSTICE OF CLAIM
Government Urged to Oh
serve Good Faith in the
Matter of Treaties.
JOHN NORRIS'S LETTER
President Taft Requested to
Let Wood Pulp and
Paper in Free.

NEW YORK. Nov 1@,-The American
Publishers association, through IoI''
Norris. chairman Of its committee or
paper. il was announced here today mas
sent z letter 10 President TAFT urgihe
tia, the government, observe good fai'n
In the observance OF the favored natlon
clause of twenty eight treaties with re-
spect TO the free Importation OF pulp ana
paper when made from unrestricted
wood. The letter recites substantially
as follows:
The question of enforcing the favorco
nation clause has arisen because 81 ths
passage of section Of the act OF Juiy
-. 1sil which granted a special PRIV,
lece 10 Canada In the matter or fIee
pulp and paper aud which did not de
nond upon Canadian concurrence, ne
snd Independent ,arIr provision.
Canada's repudia ton Of RECIPROCITY
and the. continued importation or tama ssia,
Septe mber u. 1871. the date of the Ca
madam election, put the United STATES
in a position where II WAS sraht,nG d
special privilege TO Canada and II pc
came obligated by It's t%enty-eisht treat
les 10 give equal treatment Immediately
10 the other nations.
From Four Sources.
The question was thrust upon The
treasury department from four sources:
First-By importers through sno
American Wood Pulp importers asso-
citation and others who objected TO pay
inent Of duty under such conditions.
Secondly requests of customs COL
lcctors for Instructions
Third-By inquiries from represcntta,-
lives OF tho favored nations which
claimed equivalent treatment.
Fourth--Ry paper users through the
American Newspaper Publishers asso-
citation,
AIR. Norris says that there arc indca-
lions that American paper makers are
law hv urging reference Of the matter
10 the courts for determine tlon. lie
points out a precedent for executive ac-
ton I'm 1929. when the administration
through instruction issued by the secro-
iary Of the treasury 10 collectors, grant
ed 10 Switzerland. under its favored ma.
don clause tho same rates on wines and
spirits that France enJoyed under its
reciprocity treaty OF 1898.
Text of Clause
The text of the favored nation clause
II any party shall hereafter grant 10
any other nation any particular favor IN
navigation or commerce. 1t sholl imme-
diately become common TO the other
party freely. where it is freely granted
10 such nation. or on Yielding the same
compensation when the grant is condi-
tional."
Mr. Norris urges that immediately
as used in that clause. means in good
faith what it SAYS and not after intermin-
2 bic delays In the courts or after congress
shall have subsequently passed upon The |
proposition. He claims that the later Law |
recalled SO much Of the Payne law as
was inconsistent with II and win the |
twenty EIGHT treaties which are tho su-
preme law OF the land,
The letter saws. "one may well in |
quire what Is the use OF asking other
nations 20 enter upon new treaty neSota- |
tions with the United states il the. gov.
ernment fails TO respect the integrity OF
twenty eight treaties IL has made
Every head OF the state department |
Who has formally discussed this matter !
has acted upon the assumption that graf |
uitous fayors are completely covered in |
The favored nation clauses To- our treaties. !
AZ OF the favored nations are entitled TO |
the gratuitous advantages conceded TO |
the Canadian product when they con- |
form to the specific conditions of that
enactment OF July 20, 1911 and give TO
the United States AS much as little !
equivalent as Canada does. They want
identical terms.
Sees No Excuse.
What excuse can be offered FOR with !
holding from other nations a voluntary !
special privilege which was granted to |
Canada as an inducement 10 some OF It's
provinces TO treat the United States !
as well as do the favored nations? The |
precedent applying to free Canadian pulp |
ana paper Us respected DS Al tne favored 1
nations. They can fairly ask why Can
ada should be put upon a footing more !
favored than any other nation. Some OF |
them buy more from us than Canada
does Some of them sell moro TO us than
Canada does. Why then. the delay in |
treating them according 10 law?''
Il Is probable This matter will be con-
sidercd when tbe president, The secretary |
of state and secretary Of the treasury
reach Washington
~ an pleased TO recommend Cham