Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-14
Importing German Goods
From the American Economist.

Because we have, at different times, said that
following the signing of the treaty Of peace,
trade with Germany would be to some extent re-
sumed, we have been accused in private con-
yersation Of favoring German importations.
Such an accusation is, of course far from the
truth. On the contrary, not only do we not
favor importations from Germany, but we do
not favor importations from any other country
OF goods which can be produced in America.
We have simply made prediction and our pre-
the present time. 1T is a condition not a
theory which confronts u.s." The condition"
IS thus reported in recent number of the New
York News-Record:
Hundreds of cases of German and Aus
trian-made merchandise, purchased by Amer
lean importers before the war, are being
passed through the customs here. Some time
ago, when small amount of this mer-
chandise was entered a cry was raised from
one end OF the country to the other against
permitting the entry OF these goods. Now,
however, much greater quantities are being
entered and little comment is heard.
What disposition will be made of these
goods is question that the importers them
selves seem unwilling to answer at this time.
In the majority. of instances they are being
placed in warehouses, apparently with the
object OF holding them until such time as
public opinion will permit their sale by re-
tailers.
ouC outstanding IdCt, however, Is Causing
no little comment in customs and import cir
cles. namely. that of the many importers re-
ceivlng this merchandise, only one concern
has abandoned its consignment"
We thought and predicted just exactly what
has even now come to pass. We are importing
goods from Germany and there is no stir being
made, no abandonment of consignments. with
only one exception. True, these goods were or
dered before the war, but they are being i'm
ported now. Soon there will be importations of
goods purchased since the war. If anyone
doubts it, we beg to invite his attention to the
fact that recently Senator Hitchcock of Ne
braska was informed through the State depart
Germany to accept potash from that country
in exchange tor food. It will thus be seen that
the importation of merchandise from Germany
is an administration policy.
1t has also been proposed to accept dyestuffs
from Germany in exchange for food products.
Therefore we were not talking idly when we
predicted the resumption of trade with Ger
do we favor that country when we oppose, on
principle. an embargo of German products.
When the treaty of peace shall have been
signed we are bound to give it the same treat
ment, so tar as government policy is con-
cerned, that we give to any other nation with
which we are at peace. We have no right to
embargo German-made dyes any more than we
have to embargo Engish-made dyes. We are
speaking from national standpoint not from
an individual standpoint. Each and every firm
and individual has the perfect right to refuse
or deal in German products Of any kind The
government of the United States stands in a
different position. But the government has the
right to place duty on dyes and potash and
hosiery and Autographs and glassware and every
product under the shining sun, so long as It
treats each and every nation alike. In fact, it
is the duty of the government to place tariff
duty on each and every commodity which can
be produced in the United States and to make
this tariff so amply protective that all such
products can and shall be produced here, to the
practical exclusion of foreign products of the
same class. That's the only kind of practical
exclusion of foreign products of the same class.
That is the only kind of an embargo which this
nation can afford to indulge in England may
place its .embargoes and provide for its license
systems, but England is. up to date, free trade
country When it shall have adopted pro-
tective tariff system, it will abandon embargoes
and license as being archaic and useless We
shall trade with Germany, but let the tariff wall
be so high that those who choose to patronize
the industries Of our erstwhile enemies shall
have to pay amply for the privilege, while the
rest of US shall be satisfied to purchase goods
at a lower cost price, because they are MADE in
America"