The Detroit times., 1912-12-03
TAFT IN MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS STANDPATTER ON TARIFF POLICY:

country obtained substantial most
favored-natiCn treatment from all
the countries OF the world. There are.
however 'otuer instances which. while
apparently not constituting undue ais
elimination in the sense or section =,
are nevertheless exceptions TO the com
pletc equity OF tariff treatment for
American products that the depart
mtnt OF state consistently has sought
10 obtain Tor American commerce
abroad
Necessity For supplementary Legis-
These Developments confirm the opin-
ion conveyed 10 YOU in my annual mes
sage OF 1871. that while the maximum
and minimum provision OF the tarin
law OF 1909 has been fully justified by
the success achieved In removing prev
iously existing undue DETERMINATIONS
against American products. Yet eAperl.
encc has shown that THIS feature OF
the law should be amended in such
way as 20 provide fully effective
means OF meeting the varying degrees
or discriminatory treatment OF AIneI!- ,
can comerce in foreign countries stlil
encountered. as we'll to protect
against injurious treatment on the
part OF foreign governments, through
either legislative or administrative
measures the financial interests abroad
OF American citizens whose enterprises
enlarge the market for American COM
modities.
can not too strongly recommend
to the congress the passage or some
such enabling measure as the hi!l
which was recommended by the Sccre-
tary OF state in his letter OF Dec. IL.
1911. The object OF the proposed Leg
islation is in brief TO enable the eXecu-
tive TO apply as the case may require.
10 any or all commodities, whether or
not on the free list from country
which discriminates against the United
States. graduated scale OF duties up
10 the maximum OF % per cent al va
loren provided In the present law. Flat
tariffs are out OF date. Nations no
longer accord equal tariff treatme NJ
TO all other nations irrespective OF the
treatment from them received. Sucn a
flexible power at the command OF the
executive would serve to moderate any
funfayorable tendencies on the part OF
these countries from which the impo--
tations into the United states are sub
stantlally confined 10 articles on tho
free list as Well as OF the countries
witch find a lucrative market I'm the
United states foistheir products under
existing customs rates. IL is very
necessary that the american govern
ment should be equipped with weap-
ons or negotiation adapted TO modern
economic conditions, In order that we
may at all times be in position 70
gain not only technically Just but actu-
ally equitable treatment for our trade.
and also for American enterprise Nand
vested interests abroad
business Secured To Our Country By
Direct Official Effort.
As illustrating the commercial bene-
hts TO tae nation derived from the new
Diplomacy and its effectiveness upon
the material as we'll as the more Ideal
side, IL may be remarked that through
direct official efforts alone there have
been obtained In the course of this adj
ministratlon, contracta from foreign
governments involving an expenditure
OF $50, 600 In the factories OF the
United states. Consideration Of this
fact and some reelection upon the
necessary effects of scientific tariif
system ana a foreign service alert and
equipped TO cooperate with the husl-
ness men OF America carry the convic-
ton that the gratifying increase in the
export trade OF this country Is, in sub
stantial amount, due 10 our improved
governmental methods OF protecting
and stimulating X. II is Rernanc 90
these observations TO remark that In
the two years that have elapsed since
the successful negotiation OF our new
treaty with Japan. which at the time
semed to present so many practical DIFF
ticulties, our export trade To that coun-
try has increased at the rate Of over
81. 900, 900 q month. our exports &c
Japan for the year ended June 30. 1910
were $2l95S3lO while for the year
ended June 80. 1912. the exports were
S53.41S.046. a net increase in the sale
OF American products OF nearly loo
per cent
special Claims Arbitration with Great
Britain.
Negotiations are still in progress for
supplemental schedule of claims 20
be submitted to arbitration under this
agreement, and meanwhile the neCcS-
sary preparations for the arbitra ton
OF the claims included In the first
schedule have been undertaken and are
being carried on under the authority
o. an appropriation made for that pur-
pose at the last session OF congress
II is anticipated that the two govern
ments will be prepared 20 call upon the
arbitration tribunal. established under
this agreement to meet at Washington
early next year to proceed with this
arbitration.
Fur seal Treaty and Need For Amend
ment of Our statute.
II II should appear that there Is any
uncertainty as To the real necessity for
imposing u close season at this time
shall take an early opportunity TO ad-
dress a special message 10 congress on
this subject, in the belief that this gov
eminent should yield on this point
rather than give the slightest ground
for the charge that We have been in
any way remiss in observing our treaty
DBL cations.
Imperial valley and Mexico.
In order 20 make possible the more
effective performance OF III" work
necessary for the confinement In their
present channel OF the waters OF the
lower Colorado river. and thus TO pro-
tcct the people OF the Imperial valley
as well as Ia order 10 reach with the
government Of Mexico an understand
ing regarding the distribution OF the
waters OF the Colorado river. IN whici
both governments are much Interested
negotiations are going forward with
a View TO the establishment OF a pre-
liminary Colorado river commission
which shall have the powers necessary
10 enable Il 10 do the needful work and
with authority TO study the question
Of the equitable distribution OF the
waters. There is every reason to be-
love that an understanding upon this
point will be reached and that an
agreement VIII be signed in the neaI
future
CbamizaI Dispute.
The favorable attitude lately as
sumed by the Mexican government en-
courages the hope that this trouble
some question will be satisfactorily
and dehnltively settled at an early day
Europe and the Near East.
The war between italy and Turkey
came to a close In October last by the
signature OF a. treaty OF peace. SUBJ
saOuently to which the Ottoman en-.
pire renounced sovereignty over Cy-
renaica and Tripolitania in favor Of
italy. During the past year the near
elst has unfortunately been the the
Htpr OF constant hostilities- Almost
simultaneously with the conclusion of
peace between Italy and Turkey and
their arrival at an adjustment Of the
complex questions at issue between
them. war broke out between Turkey
on the one hand and Bulgaria, Greece
Montenegro and Servia on the other.
The United states has happily been In
vOlved neither directly nor indirectly
with the causes or questions incident
10 any OF these hostilities and has
maintained in regard 10 them an att-