Evening journal., 1919-03-06
THURSDAY. MARCH 8. 1919.
TIVE 10 CALL A NIL.


A BOUT two months ago Great Britain Initiated a
n freight rate against merchant. marine,
and the shipping Board Obliged to cut rates TO the
quick to meet the competition. soon afenNard british
embargo was declared upon imports
These embargo regulations not specifically
aimed American goods Of course but since America
was practically the only competitor left in the arena
after the energy-consuming in Europe, It was not
hsrd TO determine just whom the Brtons had in mind
when they put stop to foreign competition in the
British market
As an example Of how they looked at it, the follow
ing quoted fgom letter received by Michigan motor
car company from It's agent in Lohdon
II told the other day by manufacturer that he
had been approached by a representative OF the British
Ministry Of Munitions, who submitted to him an article
being made in the United states. IIe asked II
he could make it. and on his replying that he could he
was told that II he would manufacture on quantity
basis the government would that was allowed
% be imported from America. As the manufacturer told
me this himself and it Is quite likely they will do
t with others If they will do II with one. it gives a
better idea Of the situation than any other instance
have run across"
one can scarcely READ a British paper without dis
covering shrewd other which Great Britain
has in mind for embarrassing American foreign trade
whether it be refusal to sell fuel to American oil
burning ships in Oriental ports or what-not
Vow all these things England is at perfect liberty 10
do They cannot be said to conflict with our rights
They are done for the protection Of Engands trade
Interests
But while England Is laying these burdens on our
ioreisn trade, while at the same time enjoying prac-
ucaly free trade in the American market what Is the
Administration doing TO conserve the interests OF the
United Sates9 Not a thing. on the contrary a studied
policy apparently being pursued to further the British
program.
With the cessation OF hostiues the open market
price for pg tin fen rapidly 20 less than 81 cents against
United States Government monopoly price Of 72ls
cents pound, The British manufacturers have access
to the chief of tin supply; the Americans have
not Our government insists holding the price to
'2h cents; tin-plate imports pay but a Nominal duty
md yet are asked to compete the tn-pate markets
of the world Because Of a silly method of reckoning
tonnage in this country American ship construction
IDENTICAL to that Of British ship pays considerably more
oils through the Panama Canal.
United States governmental interference with ships
restricts their efficiency. We recently appropriated
0ooo000 Of the publics money for food supplies for
Europe 50 per cent OF which reported for use in
tabiizng the price OF certain food supplies held by the
English
Our Secretary Of Commerce is sbout to undertake a
complex system Of price control yexaous both to our
domestic and foreign trade
It is time to call a halt
II Britain persists in sharp practice to the enbarrass-
neht Of American trade it is the duty of this Admins-
ratlon TO protect interests TO abet her in her
work.
We surrendered to Great Britain when Mr. Wilson
ls' assumed ONCE and changed his mind and came out
o' Panama tolls on coastwise boats, putting them
Aaul ~ equal footing with the British vessels II this |
enistraon proposes TO make us salesasent for
70 know e~'ns WAich every voter ought /