Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-13
BRITISH TRADE
POLICY SCORED
BY OWN PAPERS
Held Move for Protec-
tive Tariff Hurts
u. S. Business.

London, March 13.-FTee trade
newspapers are sharply criticising
the governments policy regarding
Importation as disclosed by Sir
Auckland GedGes, minister for ma
tlonal service and reconstruction in
he house OF commons Monday. He
said that all expectations of manu-
factured and semi-manufactured
commodities which are permitted to
enter Great Britain. be controlled
by system of special licenses un-
til Sept. l. when the question will
be reviewed"
The newspapers denounce this
proposal as an attempt to introduce
protection without any mandate
from voters, and insist that the
great majority of the voters are
opposed to a protective program
and declare that England is still a
free trade country at heart. They
say that Great Britain gained her
commercial and financial suprem-
acy through free trade and can hold
It only by free trade"
| One point on which newspapers
of all shades and views on the
tariff are agreed is that after Brit
ish manufacturers and merchants
have enjoyed the sort Of protection
| afforded them by the license sys-
| tenn, the vested interests will have
been upbuilt or at least fostered,
which will make it difficult to re-
vert to a free trade basis"
Has Faults But No Advantages.
! From the view of importers, the
license system handicaps them with
all the disadvantages of a protec-
tive tariff, without its stabilizing
virtue of certainty. They say that
" nth a protective tariff of 80 or so
per cent or any specific rate. they
would know where they stand and
might adjust their prices and do
4 business in accordance with well
known conditions. At present, they
do not know whether to plan TO
/ 90 any business. because they can
not count on being licen4ed to i'm
port any given quantity of products
or on being prohibited altogether
! from making imports.
The government, however. is able
/ tn present arguments in favor of
! the special measure. British indus
tries fave been torn to pieces by
| TIE war. They have virtually sub
merged themselves in the govern
I n ent machine and now claim that
! the government is under obligations
10 give them help and protection in
| the broadest sense during a breath
ing spell sufficient for them to re-
, adjust themselves to peace condi-
I tions.
Hurts L. S. Business.
England is swarming with Amer
ican business men who came over
fully expecting to re-establish their
old connections as soon as the vital
factor of tonnage permitted. They
have the tonnage now, but find that
official barriers have been erected
against their using it,
The process of obtaining import
licenses is that each prospective
importer must present his case to
the board of trade and TO the con-
troller OF imports The controller
judges ii from the importers stand
point and the board of trade is first
considered with the goods in ques
tion can be obtained from English
firms. If they can. the license is
refused IL tue lbpoILSI ihdhSS W
a particularly strong case. he will
be permitted to ship limited quaint
ties.
Against "S one Wall"
Conspicuous among the American
products which find themselves
against whot virtually amounts to
a stone wall. are motors. boots anil
typewriters. which cost from 5000
to $500 in England today.
Il is said a Great Britain com
pany which has hitherto devoted
ats plans to the manufacture of i'm
PIGMENTS of war is Transforming its
works into factories for the manu-
facture OF typewriting machines.