Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-19
With Arrival of Wilson, Dispute
on Trade Barriers Which
France and Britain Favor
Reaches Acute Stage.
NEUTRAL NATIONS TO
SPEAK ON THE LEAGUE
Allies Not to Call for Delegates
to Paris, but Will Query the
Heads of Governments to
Ascertain Their Wishes.
BY Herbert Bayard Swope.
Copyright, 1919, by the Pess Publish.
ing Co.
(The New York Worldly

(The New York Worldly
Especial Wireless Dispatch.)
Paris, March 1S.-While President
Wilson's return to Paris has quickened
the pulse of the peace conference and
infused its proceedings with new en-
ergy there were two phases of the
work in which action was blocked,
thus spelling what otherwise could
have been much of an advance, in the
words of the military communiques.
One is not regarded seriously, but
the second has certain touches of grav-
lty that threaten prolonged debates
The first concerns the Brussels
meeting between the allies and Ger
man delegates on the matter of feed
ing Germany and the second touches
on the economic restrictions which
France and Great Britain are certain
TO urge against the defeated nations.
Economic Details Cause Trouble.
While the subject of economics is al
ways difficult one on which to
concentrate public interest, neverthe-
less the matter now under discussion
is one that not only affects the future
of the whole world, but dovetails di-
rectly into questions of reparations.
The French and British seek to
have written into the economic treaty
provision whereby all imports and
exports from Germany are TO be sub
jected to heavy taxation.
1t is admitted candidly that the pri-
mary purpose of the imports tax is
to burden German manufacturing
costs so that it will be impossible
for articles from that source to COM
pete in the world markets against
those produced by the allied nations
1t is avowedly method of CONNER
cially hanr-striissing Germany and
against the plan of the American
economic section. by which it is hear
tily opposed. This opposition is based
upon violation of the fourteen points,
in which the declaration is made
against an after-war persecution in
the section calling for equality of
commercial opportunity, and it fur
ther rests upon the conviction that to
indorse such a regulation would be
Immediately to cause an abandonment
of all hopes of getting damages from
Germany outside what she has in the
way of quick liquid assets.
Policy Called Short-sighted.
Those who have studied the subject
regard the proposal as curiousy
short sighted. since the largest pro-
portion of German reparations must
come through her export trade. If
she is denied chance to do business
automatically, she will have no chance
to pay anybody anything.
Her sole avenue of payment is
through making money by produc
ing in quantity and cheaply,' and
selling under the same conditions.
With an imports tax upon the raw
materials she needs and another on
the foodstuffs she sells. her levies
will be so much higher than other
countries that she will not be able tol
find trade, and instead of being CO.
ing concern paying off creditors, she
will be in the role of bankrupt un-
able to do business, and unable to dis
charge her obligations. 1t is a case of
eating their cake and having it.
The league of nations committee
hats been called to consider the points
the neutrals have already offered.
Premier Orlando spent only a few
minutes with Colonel House today,
but the statement was made that his
absence from conference with Presi-
dent Wilson was merely due to other
engagements.
A preliminary report of the COM
mittee on war responsibility shows
that ways can be found to try the cul-
prits provided the conference erects al
special mechanism for that purpose.
There is sentiment to that end, but
doubt is expressed If it will be done.