New-York tribune., 1918-07-15

raVaged territories OF Belgium, Poland,
! Serbia, France and Italy.
Objects Are Important
These objects retain all their old i'm
portance. They are simple measure &
OF preservation. 1t is, for example,
still essential that we should forestall
the aggressive efforts OF the Central
Powers to use their money power to
snatch on the morning after the war
the raw materials needed for the re-
construction of the peoples of the West
eln and Eastern theatres of war whom
they have themselves despoiled.
but while the essential needs of our
selves and Of the nations which are
lighting with US the battle of liberty
and justice remain unaltered, the alli-
ance of eight has expanded into the as
sociation of twenty-four nations, of
which President Wilson spoke in his
recent address to the Red Cross. II is
no longer question of forming some
marrow defensive alliance, but Of lay
ing down the economic prime pies Of the
association of nations which is already
III existence and to membership Of
which we are committed.
"What arc these principles to be :?
The President has stated them in mem
orable words. On January he advo-
Gated the removal SO far as possible Of
all economic barriers and the establish
ment OF an equality Of trade among all
I the nations consenting to peace and as
sociating themselves for its main
tenance. On December 4 he had al
ready defined the qualifications for
membership in this association of ma
tions in words the wis sdom and nl-
portance Of which have been rendered
doubly evident by all we know of the
poilcy OF domination, exploitation and
eHclusiveness introduced by Germany
INTO all her peace treaties and forced
by her upon her allies In that speech
he considered what would be the situa-
tion if the German people Should still,
ftel the war was over, continue to be
! obliged to live under ambitious and in
trl2ulng masters interested to disturb
the peace of the world and pointed out
that 1t might then be impossible to ad :
nit them either TO the partnership Of
nations which must henccforth guar
antee the world peace or to the free
economic intercourse which must in
evItably spring out of the other part
nerships Of real peace
"To these declarations we give our
warinest assent. But do these declara-
tons necessarily mean that we-the as
/ sociated nations are to have no pro-
tcctive tariffs snG no international COM
u N D.
! Every one is agreed as to that In the
words of the programme Of the Inter
! Allied Labor Conference. the right of
each nation 10 the defence of its own
economic interests, and, in face OF the
world shortage hereinafter mentioned.
| to the conservation of su6iciencv Of
! foodstutfs and materials, cannot be de
MED.
Self-PrOtection to the Fore
Each member of the association of
nations may have to protect its citi-
zens in one way or another after the
war, but our aim must be compre-
hensive arrangement of liberal inter
course with all members of the asso-
citation by which each one of us, while
! preserving his own national security
may contribute to meet the needs and
aid in the development OF his fellow,
members. Nor, Of course, can on,
arrangement for mutual assistance ey-
clude all competition. though We are
most anxious that cooperation should
be the Keynote of our commercial rela-
tions. Our feelings in this matter
cannot be better described than in the
words Of James A Farrell to the For
eign Trade Council, namely:
1.-The sacrifices that are being cheer
fully endured to-day by men engaged
in foreign commerce in the necessary
curtailment of their business through
the conservation Of shipping are an
earnest of the elevation Of method and
of purpose which will control the con
duct of our external trade in the
! future
There is but one obstacle to this
economic association of nations. That
obstacle is Germany-the Germany de-
scribed by President Wilson in the
words which l have already ouoted-a
Germany living under ambitious and
intriguing masters You have seen
the provisions of her commercial
treaties in the East, and with all the
groups of peoples from the Arctic
Ocean to the Black Sea. Her economic
policy toward these groups is abso-
lutely contrary to our principles. That
policy began by systematic and law
lese plundering in Poland, in the
Ukraine and elsewhere Now every.
where she has legalized this blunder
by placing the weaker nations under
onerous commercial tribute to herself
"On Lithuania she has imposed her
coinage. \ From Rumania and the
Ukraine she has exacted q guarantee
of supplies, irrespective of their own
needs and at fagrantly unjust rates OF
compensation. She has appropriated
the natural resources Of Rumania in