The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-29
FIGHTING ALLIES,
ECONOMIC ALLIES
Willard Straight Says that Similar
Alignment Will Be Noted When
Peace In Declared and Coun-
tries Turn to Reorgan-
ization.

New Orleans, Jan. 2s.--That the Eu.
ropean allies of war will become eco
monte allies in peace and adopt prefer
entail tariff policies TO help each other
discharge war indebtedness and extend
foreign trade and that the United States
tariff system should be rendered more
flexible in order 10 extend American
trade by commercial agreement and pro-
tect il from discrimination, were the
conclusions voiced by Willard Straight,
vice president of the American Inter.
national corporation, New York, the
new S50,000,000 organization for inten-
sive development OF oversee commerce,
| in an address before the national for
eign trade convention here last night.
| Quoting the recent declaration of Wal.
ter Runciman, president of the British
board of trade, in Parliament, that the
British empire must, without delay,
take steps TO help France, Russia, Italy
and her other allies TO recuperate from
the war and that nothing in German
post. bellum policy be permitted to inter
fere with this recuperation, Mr.. Straight
said;
"The speech, il is true. was directed
against Germany, but it disclosed
point of view with which We in the
United States may have to reckon. The
declaration of war between the various
European powers abrogated more than
score of treaties and commercial agree
ments which had been the basis of the
complicated diplomatic and commercial
relations of the European powers with |
each other, with Asia and with Africa.
Upon the cessation of hostilties this
intricate fabric of international agree
ments must, in some form, be recon-
structed.
"a tariff agreement between the
United Kingdom and the British colo
mics and special concessions under the
scheme Of imperial preference as part
of general reciprocal arrangement be-
tween France, Russia, Italy and Bel
gium and their various dependencies,
would create an entirely self-supporting
unit which would cover
well balanced exchange of raw products
Tor manufactured articles. The crea-
ion of such a customs grouping might
,e rendered difficult because of the con-
iicting interests as producers and man
lfacturers of the powers and colonies
'oncerned but it is not impossible. On
he other hand economists of the Teuton-
c alliance are actively considering the :,
commercial policies necessary
o regain accustomed foreign sources of
wealth and to prevent blighting dis
"Three- fourths of the imports into J
he United States enter duty free. Our !
PRODUCERS are competing with British, I
french and German manufacturers in
arious oversee markets, yet in placing 5
lany of the products of these markets =
n our free list We obtain no compensa J
DRY preferential rates for articles
Yhich we, in turn. wish them to pur
base from us.
The United States stands equipped
18th single level tariff, barren of trad
lg margin for the purpose of negotiat- Ii
x commercial agreements, without re- Il
,urces for prompt concession or retali- b
ton. With the United States and fl
ossibly the British colonies, France,
ally and Russia on the one hand, and oil
ermany and Austria Hungary on the
.her, preparing to bring before their Il
aople policies on which their best ii
inds are at work, the United States :
taking an i'll advised satisfaction in
swelling trade balance which exists
lily by reason of abnormal war de-
and and prices and shrinkage of indis :
,nsable imports.
st might be well if the president q
ere given power, upon the recommen-
Ition of the tariff commission, to inn
use by proclamation an increase Of -
tiles, limited, say, to 10 per cent of AZ
e present duties on any or all OF the ~
oducts imported from any country
nich, in his Judgment, unduly discrim
ates against American products. ~ ~
can alternative suggestion is the es ee
blshment of dual or conventional