New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
British Free Trade
Advocates Protest
Licensing System
Government Attacked for
Plan to Keep Control of
Business Until Sept. /
American Firms Losing

LONDON, March 13.-Free trade
newspapers are sharply criticising the
governments policy regarding impor-
tations, as disclosed by Sir Auckland
E. Geddes, Minister for National Ser
vice and Reconstruction, in the House
of Commons Monday.
He said that all importations of
manufactured and semi manufactured
commodities which are permitted to
enter Great Britain will be controlled
by system of special licenses until
September /, when the question will be
"reviewed."
The newspapers denounce this pro-
posal as an attempt to introduce pro-
lection without any mandate from the
voters, insist that great majority of
the voters are opposed to protective
system and declare that England is
still q 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"
See Difficulty Ahead
One point on which newspapers of
all shades and views on the tariff are
agreed is that. after British manufac-
turers and merchants have enjoyed the
sort of protection afforded them by
the license system, the vested inter
ests" will have been upbuilt, or at
least fostered, which will make it diff
ficult to revert to a free trade basis
From the viewpoint of importers the
license system handcaps them with
all the disadvantages of protective
tariff without its stabilizing virtue of
certainty. They say that with a pro-
tective tariff of 80 or so per cent, or
any specific rate, they would know
where they stand and might adjust
their prices and do business in ac-
cordance with we1l-known conditions
At present they do not know whether
to plan to do any business, because
they cannot count on being licensed to
import any given quantity of products
or on being prohibited altogether from
making imports.
Against Special Acts
The government, however, is able
to present strong reasons for special
measures. British industries have
been torn to pieces by the war They
have been compelled to give up all
ordinary business, transform their
plants into munition factories and take
orders from the government. They
have virtually submerged themselves
IN the government machine, and now
claim that the government is under
obligations to give them help and
protection in the broadest sense dur
ing a breathing spell sufficient for
them to readjust themselves to peace
conditions.
England is swarming with Ameri.
can business men who came over fully
expecting to reestablish their old con
nectlons as soon as the vital factor
of tonnage permitted. They realized
that while the war was being waged
the Allied governments had the first
call on shipping, regardless of pri-
vate interests. They have the ton
mage now, but find that official bar
riers have been erected against their
using it,
Some think they have grievance
They kept up their British establish
ments at loss during the war on the
expectation of doing business again
Immediately after the close of the
struggle.
Conspicuous among the American
products which find themselves agains st
what virtually amounts to stone
wall are motors, boots and typewrit-
ers The latter costs from 5000 to
$500 in England to-day