The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-22
U. S.-BRITAIN TRADE
GAP GROWS WIDER
Embargo Continued, English
men Admit, to Help Bust
ness Of the Empire.
NEW LIMITATIONS LIKELY
Some Foods and Even Oil May
Be Taken From List Of In
dispensable Imports.
Special Wireless Despatch TO THE suS


LONDON. Feb. 22.--The trade deadlock
between Great Britain and the United
States. which already is causing consid-
cradle Ill feeling in certain Industrial
circles in both countries, grows worse
instead of better. II was expected that
II would be broken by the release OF
British shipping on March /, but 1t Is
on the part OF the British Government
that the failure to remove restrictions
on all manner of manufactured imports
from America Is due to the lack of the
necessary tonnage. while II is obvious
that the great feet of vessels returning
with troops to the United States could be
utilized to the extent of many thousands
of tons to bring American goods on their
return voyages to Europe.
1t is frankly avowed in official cir
cles that the embargo Is continued in Or
Ger to allow British trade an opportunity
to 1eestablish itself without foreign COM
petition. Thus American industries are
faced with this grave problem: VIII
England reopen trade with Germany in
certain commodities in which the latter
country always has been the keenest
competitor of the United States in the
worlds markets. with the advantage OF
| lesser distance of shipments. cheaper
freights and speedier deliveries?
Preference to Allies Urged.
II is authoritatively stated here that
American manufacturers have suggested
| to British Board of Trade officials that
| tariffs be placed upon certain imported
! goods. giving preferential rates to AL
| lies. Quite recently the president OF the
British National Union of Manufactur-
| ers headed a deputation representing all
| classes of British manufacturers which
visited Sir Albert Stanley, President OF
the Board of Trade, to urge that re-
/ strictions should be reimposed immedi.
| ately on important goods of foreign
manufacture and strictly enforced.
| On the same day, at the quarterly
| meeting of the British Association OF
| Chambers of Commerce, it was agreed
| that the Government was wrong in re-
| moving the restrictions on the import Of
| cotton hosiery and 1t was decided and
urged that special facilities should be
| given for the importation of raw ma.
terials ae against manufactured ar.
| ticles.
| The proceedings were confidential, but
| 1t Is understood that the manufacturer
were well satisfied with their reception
by Sir Albert whose reply was sympa
| thetic. He pledged himself that the re
| strctions upon importations, which ha(
| been lifted for three months, would b,
reimposed at the expiration of tina
period and that there would be no fur
ther removals of restrictions withou
consultation with the manufacturers. II
fact he even suggested that it might b
| necessary to impose further restriction
and the suggestion was made and favor
ably considered that committee o
| manufacturers should be appointed
advise the Board of Trade.
!, From another source 1t was learne
that these deliberations were based o
the belief that IL the British public ha
no opportunity TO buy competing good
they will purchase British manufacture
and that therefore the policy Shout
be: First, enable the war plants to b
| converted to peace work; second, kee
the workers and demobilized men err
ployed: third enable the articles
, question to be perfected and organiza
| tons to be built up ; fourth. lay sue
foundations for British home and expol
business that they will stand alone wne
the temporary protection is removed
To Relieve Strained Exchange.
These four points have the supper
also OF those who wish to ease the hea
| lily strained rates OF exchange betwee
Great Britain and the United States
reducing to a minimum the America
sales in England, This would be no dis
elimination as between America an
j other countries, since it would be ne,
essary to prohibit or restrict all in
ports OF competing goods.
The effect OF American trade wit
= Great Britain would be TO continue. al
even in some cases to intensity, the col
! ditons which ruled during the wa
Many businesses which kept their o
CARNATIONS alive in order that the
might be ready to meet the need (,
after the war goods would be unab
TO continue as their losses already hay
been great.
It Is assumed that some forms OF IN
!, terials and goods could not be prohibite
l but even in the case of foods the r
sources Of the British Empire might
e greatly developed. now that the sho
i haul from America is no longer Wit
{ while the British oil holdings might ev,
d. remove oil from the list of indispensat
u imports, to certain extent.
{ Machine tools, typewriters. calculator
office labor saving appliances are oft
e referred TO as being free of danger, b
o 1t is known that tentative plans ha
. been made TO convert various war plar
II to the manufacture OF these articles