The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09
WILL NOT PROTEST
BRITISH EMBARGO
State Department Merely 10
Ask il There Is Any Dis
elimination Shown.
OUR OWN ACTS ARE CITED
Agitation Here Said to Be In.
fluenccd by Desire to
Create Ill Feeling.
Special Despufch to TBr stN

WASHINGTON. Feb. S.--The tinted
States Government has taken steps 70
protect American trade IN Great Brit.
ain. France and italy. but the move has
not been along the line advocated nv
agitators. Instead Of protesting againN
the British embargo the French carte,
system OF the Italian system OF Gov
eminent supervision OF purchases. thu
State Department has addressed In.
uuiries to these Governments with a
view to determining whether there [,
discrimination against American trade,
The right of these Governments to rro.
tect their own industries against foreign
competition is not challenged
with respect TO the British embargo
which has been the subject OF animated
debate in the Senate. there is nothing
in the American inquiry which could he
regarded as even mild protest. The
texts of the notes have been sent %
Chairman Hitchcock (Neb) of the Ser-
ate Foreign Relations Committee. bu, az
the Senator is in New York the notes
remain on his desk.
Oficials of the State Department ara
taking an impartial view Of the situation
in the sense that they are recognizing
the legal rights of the British Govern.
ment and are not inclined to ask Gres.
Britain to do something which the
United States in similar Circumstance.
would decline to do.
DinRIey Tariff Is Cited.
Admittedly the British emhareo will
work hardships on American commerce
but II Ia recognized that the British Gov.
eminent first must consider the Interests
Of British industry, and that II tNe en-
barge Is adJudged necessary TO get Brit.
ish industry back on is feet there j. IN
just ground for compla int so long az
American trade is treated in the same
manner as other foreign trade.
BY way of demonstrat ting that tie
United States has done precisely what
England is now doing II vas pointed out
that A one time America virtually had
no tin industry. To establish tin
plate industry the Dingley law placed
tariff on tin so high thst British tin Wan
practically kept out Of the country. Tho
result was that the British trade suffered
in this respect bat 4 tin industry in tie
United states was established The Britt
ish made no protes'. recognizing that rs
United States acted within its rights IN
protecting its own interests
The crux Of the question so far as a,y
possible protest is concerned il whether
the British embargo is discriminatory
against American trade. In other words.
il the British would allow French good.
or italian goods to enter her markets AZ
different rate from similar Amer'caY
goods or would exclude American goods
and let in other foreign goods therA
would he just grounds for complaint or
the part of this country The G'ujtsd
States then could protest But there IA
no indication OF any discrimination.
Loans Arc Not m Argument.
The theory advanced by some ,hs, gin.
British Government should make o.
CeSSions In favor OF American trade be-
cause the United States has lent to
Allies great sums OF money is ridiculei
in official circles. In the first place j.
is emphaeized that the United States
advanced this money to help win 80
var and not tor any charitable reasons.
Secondly. the money loaned draws SOL.
tereSt and is in the nature Of a business
proposition and not IAN act Of charity
or kindness"
There is now pending in the Senate.
resolution by Senator Weeks ,Mass)
asking information from the State De.
partment regarding the British embargo.
State Department officials as well as Scr.
ators have received many complaints from
American manufacturers who would Ike
to see the embargo removed Thesa
complaints are all in good faith ara
represent the natural desires ot inter.
eSted Americans to make MONEY
But in addition 10 this agitation
against the embargo there has de"s.
oped political agitation which IL an.
raren,ly for the sole purpose Of attempt
ing to create i'll feeling between 80
United States and Great Britain. thas
been particularly noted here that some
of the German language new s3arep
have been quick TO seize tlVlr orpor'u.
nifty OF beginning attacks sgarns' ms
British. Certain cliques in Admuis'ra-
ton circles long known for thclr an
British propaganda likewise have st.
tempted to stir up feeling. but Their -.
forts along this line always fade away
a soon as II becomes evident thc -
United States is not going to give 'n'n
any encouragement