Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-10-29
WILSON EXPLAINS
 FREE TRADE PLANK IN PEACE TERMS
Letter to Senator Simmons Answering Par
 tisan Moves By G. o. P.

w dSHlIlS LOH. OCC. Ac.-A IcSlucIAI Wilson replied today to Republican contentious that the third of his four teen peace terms is free trade plank, | by explaining that in demanding the removal of economic barriers he meant to suggest no restrictions upon inter nal economic policies, but only that whatever tariff, high or low, any na- tion 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 Sen- ate Finance Committee, who had writ ten him asking for statement "be- cause certain Republicans leaders are the paragraph.
 Weapons of economic discipline and punishment" the President wrote, should be left to the joint action of all nations for the purpose of punishing those who will not sub init to general program of justice and equality"
 The Presidents letter follows:
 Dear Senator:
 ''I am glad to respond to the quest ion addressed to me by your letter of October 26. The words 1 used in my address to the congress of January s, 1918, were: "'The removal, so far as possible, of economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of, trade conditions among all the nations con- senting to the peace and associating themselves for it's maintenance.'
 "l, of course meant to suggest no restriction upon the free determina- tion bv any nation of it's own econo- mic policy, but only that, whatever tariff any nation might deem neces- sary for It's own economic service, be that tariff high or low. la should ap- ply equally to ali foreign nations; Tn other words that there should be no discriminations against some nations that did not apply to others. This leaves every nation free to determine for itself it's own internal policies and limits only it's right to compound these policies of hostile discrlmina- tions between one nation and another.
 Weapons of economic discipline and punishment should be left to the joint action of all nations for the purpose of punishing those who will not sub init to a 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 agreemets has been prolific breeder of that kind of antagonlsm which oI- ten times results in war, and that II a permanent peace is to be established among nations every obstacel that has stood in the way of international friedship should be cast aside. 1t was with that fundamental purpose Tn mind that 1 announced this principle in my address of January S. To pervert this great principle for partisan pur- poses, and to inject the bogey of free trade, which is not inaolved at all, IS to attempt to divert the mind of the nation from the broad and humane principle of adurable peace by intro dusing an internal question of quite another kind. American business has in the past been unaffected by pol icy of the kind suggested and 1t has nothing to fear now from policy or simply international justice. It IS in deed lamentable that the momentous issues of this solemn hour should be seized upon in an effort to bend them to partisan service. To the initiated and discerning, the motive IS trans parent and the attempt fails.
 Sincerely yours, "Woodrow Wilson" Following is the letter of Senator Simmons:
 "Dear MT. President:
 "Certain Republican leaders are attempting to make partisan use of Paragraph III of your peace terms found in your address to congress, January J 8, 1918. No one has authority to reply to misconstruction of Ian, any part of your address exceptng yGua- self, but I, as chairman of the fin- ance Committee of the Senate, wish YOU would make reply to these state ments nua and insinaations which arr are being industriously circulated s'as by iS the the Al. lo1;oo{0 n1QtfQrC.