The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-29
Eoby American business Interests
May Bind to Them Trade of
Other Countries.
3isEaGN TRADE COUNCIL MEETS
enhcrs Believe European Allies i'm
4 Tar May Become Economic Allies
n Peace and. by Preferential Traf-
I &c. Assist Each Others Rcllabilita-
don.

nznET discharge war Indebtedness and
extend foreign trade was the pre-
Airtion OF willard Straight, formerly
associated with J. T. Morgan & Co,
and now vice president of the Ameri-
/ can Tnternatioual Corporation, IA his
Address before the third national for
eign trade convention here today
Quoting the recent declaration 10
rAriiament Of Walter Eunciman. pres
Adent OF the British Board % Trade,
that the British Empire must with
4nsat delsy-t= Ike steps 10 heip France.
Russia, Italy aud her other allies
No recuperate from the war. and that
nothing IN German post-bellum policy
can be permitted to interfere with the
xecuperation. Mr. Straight said:
the speech. IL Is true. was direct
"a aEainst Germany, bat * disclosed
N point OF view with which we in the
United States may have to reckon. The
sSeciaration of war between the va
Ffons European powers abrogated
mnpre than a score Of treaties and
commercial agreements which had
been the basis OF the complicated Dip
3omatic and commercial relations of
the European powers with each 9TH
er. with Asia and with Africa. Upon
the cessation Of hostilities this IN
trtcata fabric OF international agree
rnents must. in some form, be recon
xtrncted.
'sThese policies win he made pollti-
cafly and commercially effective in
the diplomatic settlement which will
follow the war They will determine
the terms which the victors Will I'm
pose upon the vanquished, the future
relations between the victors Them
selves and inevitably will influence
the relations between the vlctors col
1ectiveiy and the rest of the world
"A tariff agreement between tho
United Kingdom and the British coll
nnfes and special concessions under
this scheme OF imperial preference as
part OF general reciprocal arrange
Tsaent between France. Russia. Italy
and Belgium and their various de-
Tendencies would create an entirely
4s1if-snpporting commercial unit which
would cover IL weIi-balanced exchange
of raw products for manufactured
articles
HssassTsfae creation of such a Gust orns-
grouping might be rendered difficult
shecausR OF the conflicting interests as
producers and manufacturers Of the
Bowers and colonies concerned hut II
is not impossible. IN England and
sFrance plans are already being made
sfor aggressive commercial campa!gn
sMffer the war. both for extension 81
Afeir own trade and for crushing Of
herman and Austrian commerce
4hroushout the world. Russia APP
1sarently is determined to restrict the
entrance Of German goods into the
Russian markets,
"on the other hand, economists nf
the Teutonic alliance are actively con-
@Efdering the intensive commercial
policies necessary 30 regain accustom-
ed foreign sources Of wealth and to
prevent blighting discrimination.
al No Compensatory Rates
II "Three-ffths of the imports into
the United States enter duty free.
IyBr producers are com pe*img with
British, French ana German manu-
Iacfurers IN various oversee mar
sskets, yet in placing many Of the pro-
vx4Hets OF those markets ea our free
ssgist we obtain no compensatory pre-
skerential rates for articles which we
In turn wish fhem 70 purchase from
sSas--or
s. 81 tsThe revenue necessities Of nation
eAl defense have caused legislatures 10
sfurn their attention ia puss ble re-
vision of certain tariff schedules That
heed f. undoubtedly great, but the
effect of future European tariff policy
npon both the domestic and foreign
N8MIE OF ZIG 1 N3kFd SUITES IS g. tfIt
more vital 10 cur future prosperity
.srhe United States stands equipped
with a single level tariff. barren of
s4rading margin for the purpose II
X tneRotiatinr commercial agreements,
without resources for prompt conces-
sion or retaliation with the United
Kingdom. and possibly the British
colonies, France, Italy and Russia on
l the one hand. and Germany and Aus
trta-Hungary ou the other, prrpsy-
a3ng 20 bring before their people. poll
sxies on which their hes, minds are NJ
WORK the United States is taking an
aaI-ad vised satisfaction In a swelling
Trade balance which exists only by
treason OF abuorma! war demand and
prices and shr!nAaEe ~ Indispensable
imports
@ ct might he well Z the President
3vere given power upon the recon-
mendatlon of Tile tariff com mission.
4o impose by proclamation an increase
aDf duties, limited Say, 70 70 per cent
NJ the present duties OF any or all Of
Ahe products imported from anv coun-
ny. which, In his Judgment, unduly
6iscrininates against American pro-
ducts
M IAN alternative sJgEe9ttcu IS the
S@ata bIishment ~ A dual or conven-
Nfonal tariff system with one general
schedule from which concessions 20
III lower level OF duty on tpeciHed ar
q icles, might be extended bv nepo-
nation, 10 countries affardiug the
emitted States reciprocal ard eGutva-
u euf treatment in their own tariffs
III .If we aye to maintain after the
tAsent war the foreign trade we may
h nfabiish II seems imperative that we
n Aye means at our disposal e. pre-
n esat foreign countries fFefa dfscrinti-
u Mating at will against our products
4 Aid J. J. Culbertson, president 81 ths
Euterstate Cotton Seed Crushere As
oci.tion. This we cannot % under
ne present tariff act since this act
4 onfains no provisions under which
& 9eventive action can be taken"
" ssTha tariff act 81. 1909 empowered
Il he President TO increase the mini
hmm duties on imports from any for
VI Agn country that Disseminated IN
B nStly against the products Of thu
puntry. BY the application Of th'
4 Maximum tariff. equivalent to an ad
a 3fxion OF rs per cent al valoren. th'
IN Bower given the President was tot
Ne treat and TOO unwtefdly 10 apply Fl
II practical and satisfactory manner
34f placed in his hand the rctsliator,
neans OF instituting an increase II
iii lmportatlons from an offcndinj
EOnntry but not on any specired ar