Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-28
FREE TRADE "BOGEY"
LAID Bl PRESIDENT
He Clarifies Third Peace Term
Which Republicans Twisted
Into Tariff Threat.
BY Associated Press to Every Evening

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
Washington, Oct 2S President Will
son replied today to Republican con-
tentions that the third of his fourteen
peace terms is a free trade plank by ex-
planning that in demanding the remov
OF economic barriers he meant to suggest
no restriction upon internal economic
policies but only Is whatever tariff high
or low any nation might deem necessary,
it should apply equally to all foreign
nations
The President made the explanation
In letter to Senator Simmons of North
Carolina, Chairman of the Senate finance
committee, who had written him asking
for statement because certain Re
publican leaders are attempting to make
partisan use" of the paragraph.
"Wdeapons OF economic discipline and
punishment" the President wrote, should
be left to the Joint action of all nations
for the purpose of Furnishing those who
will not submit to a general program OF
justice and equality"
He added that 10 inject the Bogey of
free trade, which is not involved at all,
was to attempt To divert the minds OF the
nation fro u broad principle of - durable
peace, and that it was lamcntable that
momcntous issues OF this solemn hour
should be seized upon IN an effort to bend
IN va q prot ctrnt rvicc'
The President 5 letter follows
Dear Senator: am glad to respond TO
the question addressed to me by your
letter Of October 26. The words used IN
my address to the Congress of January \,
1918 were The removal SO far as possible
of all economic barriers and the establish
ment of an equality of trade conditions
among all the nations conscnting to the
peace and association themselves Tor ITS
maintenance
1T meant, of course, To suggest no re-
Striction upon the free determination by
anv nation of its own economic policy, but
only that, whatever tariff n nation might
deem necessary for IFS own economic SER
vice. be that tariff high or low, II should
apply equally to All foreign nations, IN
other words that there shall he no dis
ordinations against some nations that
did not apply to others. lhI, leaves every
nation free 10 determine Tor itself ITS own
internal policies and limits only its right to
compound these policies Of hostile dis
ordinations between one nation and
another Weapons Of economic discipline
and punishment should be left TO the JOINT
action of all nations for tho purpose of
punishing these who Will not submit tn a
general program of Justice and cquailty
The experiences q the past among
nations have taught uS that the attempt
by ono nation to PUNISH another rs cN-
elusive and discriminatory trade agree
mcntS has boon prohiC breeder of that
Kind oi antagonism which often times
results III war, and that il ii permanent
peace is 10 TIC established among nations
every obstacle that has stood IN the way
Of international friendship should hc cast
aside Il was with that fundamental
purpose IN mind that ! announced tins
prlnciplc IN my address OF January :
To pcrvcrt tins great principle for partisan
purposes. and 10 inject he Rogcy Of
free trade, which is not involved at all, ~
to attempt 10 divert the mind OF the
nation from the broad and humane prln-
ciplc Of durable peace hV introducing
an internal question Of quite another kind
American business has in the past been
unaffected hy a policy Of the kind sug
gcsted and II has nothing 10 fear now from
policy oi simple international justice
II is indeed lamcntahlc that the mo-
nentous issues Of tins solemn hour should
be seized upon in an effort 10 bend them
to partisan service To the initiated dis
cerning. the motive IS transparent and the
attempt fails Following IS the letter
of Senator Simmons
Dear MIR President Certain Re-
publican leaders are attempting to make
partisan use Of paragraph III of your
peace terms found in your address to
Congress, January 5, 1918. No one has
authority to reply to misconstructlon
of any part OF your address excepting
yourself, but /, as chairman OF the finance
committee of the Senate. wish you would
make reply to these statements and in
situations which are being industriously
circulated by the opposition TO erpbarrass
YOU in the handling of these delicate
matters.