Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-05

IOr protecting ana pTOmOIl0g our
foreign trade It is natural that
competitive countries should view
with some concern this steady
expansion of our commerce. II in
some instances the measure taken By
them to meet it arc not entirely equi-
table, a remedy should be found. IN
former messages I have described the
negotiations Of the department OF
state with foreign governments for the
adjustment of the maximum and min
imum tariff as provided in section
Of the tariff law Of 1909. The advan-
tages secured by the adjustment OF
our trade relations under this law
have continued during the last year,
and some additional cases Of discrim-
inatory treatment Of which we had
reason to complain have been re-
moved. The department of state has
for the first time in the history OF
this country obtained substantial
INSTRUMENTATION treatment from
all the countries Of the world. There
are, however, other instances which,
while apparently not constituting IN
due discrimination in the sense Of
section ?, are nevertheless exceptions
to the complete equity of tariff treat
ment for American products that the
department of state consistently has
sought to obtain for American COM
merce abroad.
Necessity for Supplementary Leigsia-
lation.
These developments confirm the
opinion conveyed to you in my annual
message of. 1911, that while the max
imum and minimum provision of the
tariff law Of 1909 has been fully JUS
titled by the success achieved in re-
moving previously existing undue dis
examinations against American prod
ucts, yet experience has shown that
this feature of the law should be
amended in such way as to prevent
a fully effective means of meeting
the varying degrees Of discriminatory
treatment Of American commerce in
foreign countries still encountered, as
well as to protect against injurious
treatment on the part Of foreign gov
eTnments, through either legislative
of administrative measures, the fnan-
ciaI interests abroad of American cit
liens whose enterprises enlarge the
market for American commodities
I can not too strongly recommend
to congress the passage of some such
enabling measure as the bill which
was recommended by the secretary
Of state in his letter of December Is,
1911 hn 1hjoo% - r., L.
islation is, in brief, to en-
able the executive to apply,
as the case may require, to any
or all commodities, whether or not on
the free list from a country which
discriminates against the United
States, a graduated scale of duties
up to the maximum Of rs per cent ad
valorem provided in the present law.
Flat tariffs are out of date. - !
The message told what the govern
ment has done in connection with the
Balkan war and in placing the gov
eminent Of Liberia in position to pay
Tits debts. The new condition of af
fairs in China was set forth, and
then our relations with Central and
South American governments were
| set forth in more. detail. It concluded
as follows:
Congress should fully realize the
conditions which obtain in the world
as we find ourselves at the threshold
of our middle age as a nation. We
have emerged full grown as a peer in
| the great concOurse of nations. We
| have passed through various forma-
tive periods. We have been self-cen-
tered in the struggle to develop our
| domestic resources and deal with our
domestic questions The nation is
! now too mature to continue in its for
! eign relations those temporary expe-
/ dents natural to a people to whom do
nestle affairs are the sole concern.
In the past our diplomacy has often
| consisted, in normal times, in a mere
assertion of the right to international
! existence. We are now in a larger
| relation with broader rights of our
| own and obligations to others than
ourselves. A number Of great guild
| ing principles were laid down early in
| the history of this government. The
recent task of our diplomacy has been
! to adjust those principles to the con-
| ditions of today, to develop their cOrol-
laries. to find practical applications Of
| the old principles expanded to meet
new situations. Thus are being
evolved bases upon which can rest
the superstructure Of policies which
must grow with the destined progress
| of this nation. The successful con-
duct of our foreign relations demands
J a broad and a modern view. We can
not meet new questions nor build for
/ the future if we confne ourselves to
outworn dogmas of the past and to
| the perspective appropriate at our
| emergence from colonial times and
I conditions. The opening Of the Pana-
/ ma canal will mark a new era in our
| international life and create new and
worldwide conditions which, with
| their vast correlations and conse-
! quences, will obtain for hundreds Of
| years to come We must not wait for
events to overtake us unawares. With
continuity of purpose we must deal
/ with the problems of our external re
lations by a diplomacy modern, re
! sourcefuI, magnanimous, and fittingly
! expressive of the high ideals OF a
! great nation.
/ VIII. H TAFT.
| The White House.
December 3, 1912.