Evening journal., 1916-09-21
TRADE Combination
AGAINST america
Plan Would Abroga ate
Treaties TO Which United
States is SignatOry
WORKINGMEN
WOULD SUFFER
Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.

WOULD SUFFER
Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL.
NEW YORK, Sept. 21.-Additional
reports regarding the Paris conference
and further disclosure of the plans of
the Allies reveal the purpose OF con-
tinuing the existing military alliance
In the form of commercial alliance
after peace is declared. 1t is pro-
posed to adopt by mutual agreement
a system Of tariff duties whereby the
allied powers will endeavOr to pro-
mote their own trade and TO prevent
the Central Powers, especially Ger
many from regaining their share of
the worlds trade which they enjoyed
prior to the war. In this scheme the
United States is to be accorded the
place Of a neutral" neither enjoying
the advantages of the Allies nor suf-
fering quite as much disadvantage as
the Central Powers. There is, of
course. considerable question as to
how far it will be practicable for the
Allies to discriminate against the
United States and in favor OF them
selves, without inflicting as great in
jury on the trade of this country as
on the Central Powers, which will be
the chief object Of the discrimination.
The plan involves, OF course, the abro-
cation Of all treaties containing a
most favored nation" clause and,
with England. Russia, France. Bel
GUM, Roumania. Servia, and Monte
negro. together with the English and
French colonies, each enjoying tariff
advantages in the markets Of all the
others, the arrangement promises to
constitute the greatest commercial
trust the world has ever witnessed.
Even il the word of the Allies, that
this gigantic commercial syndicate is
organized primarily for their joint
advantage, secOndarily o q punitive
measure against their present enc
mics, and with no purpose whatever
10 injure the United States. be accept
ed as literally true, it is obvious that
In operation such a colossal combina-
ton cannot but work grave injury to
the foreign trade of the United States.
Mr.. Hughes Diplomatic.
In his campaign speeches, Gov.
Hughes has dwelt with emphasis upon
the prospect Of the greatest CONNER
cial rivalry the world has ever known,
following the end of the war He has
pointed out that the war has served
to develop a degree of industrial or
ganization and efficiency hereto un-
known among European nations. He
has portrayed conditions when the
probably 30.000000 men now either
actually engaged in fighting or devo-
| ting their entire energies to produc-
! ing munitions for the armies shall
return to their industrial pursuits. It
! is a keen perception OF these condi-
tions and the imperative necessity for
finding employment for these great
armies after the war which has
prompted the diplomatic negotiations
looking to the presumption OF the
worlds trade by the allied powers, in
order that peace may not be accom-
panied by an era OF unemployment
almost as disastrous as the war itself,
in order that foreign markets for the
trade of belligerents may be instant
ly commanded and that. without I'M
due delay, the gold which has been
sent abroad to pay for ammunition
and military supplies may be regain
ed With the prospect Of having as
Chief Executive. to represent the in
terests Of this country in the diplO-
matte negotiations which will attend
] the abrogation of existing commercial
! treaties and the substitution of new
ones therefore. Mr. Hughes has doubt
/ less felt it would not be diplomatic to
dwell at too great length on the trade
program OF the allied powers. To do
so might initiate against his subse-
Quent efforts to procure for the United
States terms as little unfavorable as
possible. But the employment by the
allied powers of a system Of tarin du-
ties to achieve their far-seeing pur-
pose necessarily precludes any feel
ing OF resentment on their part If the
| United States utilizes the same instru-
mentality to protect its domestic In
dustries and promote its foreign
trade. In the light OF European de-
velopments. IL requires no prophetic
eye to foresee the disadvantage al
which American industries will be
placed when compelled TO compete
with these protected and sustained by
the European Governments. or to rea-
lie how essential il is to continued
prosperity in this 6buntry that Amer
lean industries enjoy the protection
of a Government which is whole.
heartedly devoted TO their welfare and
promotion.