Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-07-16


gested to show how perplexing and
how important the American tariff
issue" grown out of itself, is likely to
become. in my opinion certain to be-
come, as soon as peace is signed. How
can the United States maintain a pro-
tective tariff, or even tariff for
revenue only, and expect to be al
lowed free trade with either alliance,
when each alliance has prohibitive
tariff wall against its enemies? How
can America expect TO be allowed to
join both alliances. when such a step
would make New York the financial
capital Of the world and give every
American exporter and importer a
tremendous advantage over his for
eign competitor, whether British or
German How can America expect
treatment different from other neu-
trails, when one avowed object Of the
trade groups is to coerce small
countries. dependent on their large
neighbors for goods. into joining the
economic alliance and hence coming
into the political orbit OF London or
Berlin? If for instance, Greece
joined tho allied union to get coal and
food at fair prices. and under com
pulsion put an embargo on German
trade, would not Greece in the next
war inevitably find herself Germany's
enemy? Germany. her economists
admit. hopes by this means to draw
Holland, Rumania, sweden and
Denmark into the zollverein.
Questions Arise.
These questions are suggested to
give food for reflection: to attempt
answers ut this time would be merely
wild speculation, and the answers
VIC uld be colored by the political be-
liefs of the speaker, but these ques-
tions, or others like them, will arise,
and answers must he found.
The protests and lamentations of
advanced liberals in England and the
social democratic parties in central
Europe over the economic war con-
tinue. but with the signing of the al
lied economic pact in Paris on June
II the last chance Of avoiding such a
struggle vanished. The steps leading
up to the declaration of the economic
war are curiously similar to those
which brought on the present armed
struggle. and, in each case, RESPONSE
bility is placed by all the belligerents
sQuarely upon the shoulders of their
enemies.
The economic war against central
Europe is a defensive war. The rep
reSentatiVes of the allied govern
ments," says the Paris conference in
its officaial declaration, declare that
after forcing upon them the military
contest in spite of all their efforts to
avoid the conflict, the empires OF CEN
trail Europe are today preparing, in
concert with their allies, for a contest
or The economic plane, which will not
only survive the establishment of
peace, but will at that moment attain
its full scope and intensity. They
therefore cannot conceal from them
selves that the agreements which are
being prepared for this purpose be-
tween their enemies have the obvious
object of establishing the domination
of the latter over the production and
markets of the whole world and of
imposing on other countries an in
tolerable yoke. In face of so grave
a peril the representatives of the al
lied governments consider that it has
become their duty. on grounds of nee
cssary and legitimate defense, to adopt
and realize from now onward all the
measures requisite on the one hand to
secure for themselves and for the
whole of the markets of neutral
countries full economic independence
and respect for sound commercial
practice, and on the other hand to
facilitate the organization on perma-
nent basis of their economic alliance"
Gcrnany'S Position.
The Germanic negotiators have not
yet issued their declaration of war,
but II there was the slightest chance
that the negotiations between Ger
many, Austria and Hungary might
break down, it has been destroyed by
the allied proclamation quoted above,
and by the official list of steps to be
taken by the allies to strangle German
trade. It has been the German claim
from the first that England fomented
the war out of commercial jealousy
hoping to destroy a trade rival, and
the plan for n central European
zollverein has been, like the allied
scheme, defensive" from the first.
As matter of fact, ! believe it to
be true that the first movement to-
wards the trade war was made by
Germany. but as in the case of the
war of armies Germany claims that
she merely anticipated the plans of
her adversaries. Foreseeing that the
allies would unite to strangle her
economically after the war, as Ger
man writers began to declare months
ago. Germany in self defense found
herself compelled to organize n CEN
tral European Zollverein which shall
in retaliation boycott the allies, and
persuade" by pressure it may be
lltpoSSlDle 10 resist, tne llllle neutral
countries bordering Germany and
Austria to join. Germany at least
scores one point in the controversy
that will rage over which side began
tie trade war-the declaration Of
war. this time, has come first from
the allies. and not, as in August 1914.
from Germany.
Three Periods.
The proposals OF the Paris con-
ference. ranged under three heads,
deal with the war period, reconstruc-
ton period, and peace period. An ef-
fective blockade of Germany and
neutral countries adjoining Germany
Is urged, to prevent supplies from
getting through. during the war, and
one clause is pointed out as a slap at
the American blockade contentious
urged against England, and now re-
pudiated by all the allies. "The al
lies" the conference says, will COM
plete the measures already taken for
the restriction Of enemy supplies by
making the grant of licenses
for export to neutral countries from
which export to enemy territories
might take place conditional upon
tho existence in such countries of con-
troll organizations approved by the al
lies; or. in the absence of such orga-
upon special guarantees,
such as the Limitation of the quanti-