The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-24
A TRADE WAR FEARED.

Ii appears that the administration at
| Washington has all at once walked up
to the importance of q point that has
been frequently raised in the passage
Of the tariff bill as framed. That is the
Interference of this law with the COM
mercial treaties which we have with
European and other nations. The re-
vision Of the tariff proceeded upon
lines that altogether ignore our treaty
obligations. Warning came from Ger
many as to some Of these points. espe-
cially as to the matter Of valuations OF
imports. In response to the German OBJ
lection, the provision in the bill which
provided for the official examination
in foreign countries of books and ac
counts Of foreign manufacturers III or
der to establish the true value Of i'm
ports was withdrawn, since Germany
made il known that it would not suf-
fer any such interference with its 10
cal affairs. But the provision that was
at first coupled with that still remains,
that an official valuation to be made
in this country of imports, which may
not accord at all with the import in
voice, is to be established by the Sec.
retary Of the Treasury. This is consid-
cred a serious matter by Germany and
other European nations, and because of
it a commercial war is threatened
Another point Of objection is the
subsidy clause making percentage re-
ductions on import charges where goods
are brought in in American ships.
The seriousness of this threat ap.
pears to be scnsed all at once by the
administration, which heretofore has
altogether ignored the thought that any
consideration should be given to the
objections Of Germany or any other
European power. 1t is now proposed
to cure the trouble and avert trade
war by a sort of disclaiming resolution,
which will allow four months to inter
vene, in the course OF which the foreign
powers may apply for an amendment Of
the commercial treaties to correspond
with our newly revised tariff enact
ment
It is hardly necessary to urge point
which is apparent on its face, that
resolution of this kind would by no
means meet the case; for it is drawn
merely from the American standpoint,
and requires all foreign nations to come
TO the American idea and the American
requirements. But a treaty is not
drawn so az to conform to the particu-
lar requirements or exactions OF any
one country. A treaty is mutual
agreement between two countries, each
equally free TO state It's own opinions
and make its own eXactions as 10 terms.
Therefore, for the United States to pass
tariff law which practically annuls
points in our commercial treaties. and
then in view of the resentment of for
eIgn powers, to say TO those foreign
powers that they have the chance now
TO conform to the American require.
ment in the amendment of their treat
les, is surely a grotesque idea alto
gether.
eign powers is that they do not consent
to this change In their commercial
treaties as made in this tariff revision,
To say to them thereupop that they
have the chance to make the treaties
correspond with our legislation within
four months time, is q stupidity so
gross that ii amounts TO tweak of the
nose of all those foreign powers. 1t is
remarkable thing that our amateurish
statesmen in Washington are not able
United States. and to recognize the |
fact that other countries have rights |