The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-01
TALK OF CHANGE
in OLD POLICY
Great Britain May Be Forced
to Adopt Protective
Tariff.
CABINET TO ECID E
Modification of Free Trade
May Be Necessary as Re-
construction Measure.
(By FLOYD MncGriff)

London. April ID. N. S)--The
Lloyd George cabinet will decide be-
fore September /, whether tariff pro-
lection of certain British industries
shall become a permanent policy OF
the government. Before the wa-
England boasted that her commercial
greatness was due 10 free trade.
Whether there is a possibility that
this free trade policy will be modi-
fed. is a question that Is being asked
in many quarters. Well Informed
business men in a position to know
think so.
Interests favoring protection point
out that British industries must be
protected" against those OF the
United States, Japan and Germany.
Increase cost OF raw materials and
higher wages have knocked the blocks
out from under many British indus
tries, which. though husky in 1871
we're dgarfed by the war whiof
| brought in it's train Limitation -...i
overseas trading and shipping facili'
| ties.
Plants to Catch Up.
The government has explained thai
its lockout OF American manufact'
ured goods is simply to enable Brit
ish industries to catch their breatf
and put them in position TO mee'
! international competition.
Thus, certain key industries'-
they comprise the majority Of manu-
facturars who export finished goods
are to be safeguarded until Scptembe!
! I, when the whole position, 1t is an
! nounced. will be reviewed. Incident
ally, such industries as those making
dyes, potash, etc, regarded as super
necessities which should not be al
| lowed 10 pass into tho control OF anJ
nation, will continue after that date
to receive protection.
Other industries may be added tc
the list. Free traders are up in arms
Modification of Policy.
The ban on imports has beer
framed so as 10 permit raw materials
| which the nation needs, TO come IN
freely.
In addition, manufactured articles
from other parts of the empire, sucr
as Canada and Australia, may come
in freely.
Even in raw materials it is realized
that the United States has tremen'
dous advantage because the difhcu!'
ties OF transportation are less. The
wealth of the United States in Goa
alone gives cause for further appre-
hension as one-half of the world
estimated coal deposits lie beneath
territory owned by the United states
All that America would have to dc
TO keep the whole world within he'
commercial grip. would be to develoY
the cheapest possible production oi
coal and steel, the bases of modern
commerce.
The policy Of Great Britain towards
her allies is:
Get Belgium. France and Italy "a
allow British exports TO flow IN to
A certain extent. rs charge that can
be arranged upon the indemnity tnat
they will receive from Germany.
The board of trade will keep Brit
ish traders at home informed
promptly of any variation OF restric-
tions imposed by other countries.
Free traders hold that the policy
of protecting key industries" is re-
suiting in keeping other Industries
disorganized. because they do not
know what to expect as a line OF
policy and are, therefore. operating
only a marginal basis.
Some Of the newspapers are not op-
timistic over the outlook for trade
and aud commerce.