Evening star., 1918-10-28
NO FREE TRADE IN
14PEACE TERMS,
PRESIDENT SAYS
Replies to Republican Con-
tention. That Third Para
graph Is sucll M 4 Plank:
TARIFF sHoULD D: APPLY
TO ALL NATIONS ALIKE

President Wilson replied today to
republican contentious that the third
Of his fourteen peace terms is a free
trade plank, by explaining that in de-
manding the removal of economic
barriers he meant to suggest no re-
;striction upon internal economic poll
cies, but only that whatever tariff,
high or low, any nation might deem
necessary, it should apply equally to
all foreign nations.
The President made the explanation
in a letter to Senator Simmons of
North Carolina. who had written him
asking for a statement because GER
tain republican leaders are attempt
ing to make partisan use'' Of the para
graph.
Weapons c.. economic discipline
and punishment" the President wrote,
/ should be left to the Joint action of
all nations for the purpose of justice
and equality"
He added that to inject the bogey
of free trade. which is not involved
at all, was to attempt to divert the
mind Of the nation from broad prin-
was lamentable' that momentous is
sues of this solemn hour should be
seized upon in an effort to bend them
to partisan service.
The Presidents Letter,
The Presidents letter follows:
Dear Senator: I am glad to respond
to the question addressed to me by
your letter Of October 2S. The words
I used in my address to the Congress
of January s. 1918. we're: The remov-
al. so far as possible, of all economic
barriers and. the establishment of an
equality of trade conditions among
all the nations consenting to the peace
and associating themselves for its
maintenance
Il, of course, meant to. suggest no
restriction upon the free determine
ton by any nation, of its own economic
policy. but only that, whatever tariff
any nation, might deem necessary for
its own economic service, be that
tariff high or low itt-should apply
equally to all foreign nations; in other
words, that there should be mo dis
criminations against some nations
that did not apply to others. This
leaves every nation free to detArmine
for. itself its own internal policies and
limits only its right to compound these
policies Of hostile Determinations be-
tween one nation and another Weap-
ons Of economic discipline and pun
ishment should be left to the Joint
action Of all nations for the purpose
Of Furnishing those who will not sub
nit to general program Of justice
and equality.
The experiences of the past among
nations have taught us that the at
tempt by one nation to punish another
by exclusive and discriminatory trade
agreements has been a prolific breeder
Of that kind OF antagonism which
a permanent peace Is to be established
among nations every obstacle that has
stood in the way Of international
friendship should be cast aside. 1t was
with that fundamental purpose in
mind that I announced this principle
in my address of January 8. To per-
vert this great principle for partisan
purposes, and to inject the bogy Of
free trade, which is not involved at
all. is to attempt to divert the mind
Of the nation from the broad and hu.
name principle Of a durable peace By
introducing an internal question a
quite another kind. American busa-
ness has In the past been unaffected
by q policy Of the kind suggested, anu
1t has. nothing to fear. now from a
policy Of simple international justice
Tt is indeed lamentAble that the mo-
mentous issues OF this solemn hour
should be seized upon in an effort to
f(,nufi1ued nm Gsorond DarN 4