Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-11
u. S. Commercial
Theatres Planned
BY w. S. MANN.
Copyright, 1920, by The Washing
ton Star,l

IOn cthEsl
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11-Uncle
Sam Is preparing TO negotiate twen-
ty-fve or thirty new commercial
treaties in order that American busi-
ness may have a square deal in in
ternational commerce under the
new world conditions.
The merchant marine act epprov-
ed June 5. the day that congress
adjourned, a~brogates sections of
thirty commercial treaties with
twenty-five countries, according to
state department Interpretation.
Notices of this abrogation are now
being prepared in the state depart
ment and are to be sent by the
President in September as directed
in the new shipping act to the va
| rious foreign countries which are
parties to these treaties.
Automatically there will go into
effect discriminatory provisions
which are contained in the Under
wood tariff act of 1918, and which
have not yet been operative because
of conflict with the existing treaties.
Oficials of the state and COM
merce departments, members of the
shipping board and the United States
tariff commission, many members of
congress and others who have given
particular study to this question be-
lieve that the abrogation directed
in the new shipping act necessitates
the negotiation of ley treaties.
The tariff commission is now max
mig a special study by direction of
congress into all commercial trea-
ties, agreements, arrangements and
conventions of foreign nations to
determine which, If any, of them dis
criminate in any way against the
trade of the United States. 1t is the
intention of the tariff commission
to have a report on this subject
ready for congress when 1t takes up
tariff legislation.
American shipping interests, espe-
cially the ship-building interests,
contend that by the enactment of
the discriminatory provision in the
ne wmerchant marine law "a power
full weapon for the maintenance and
perpetuation of the American mer-
chant marine on an adequate scale
is placed in our hands" 1t is point
ed out hat Senator Jones, father of
the act, set a bear trap in the bill,
and that British carriers in par
ticular are finding this out. Admit
raj Benson, chairman of the Ship
ping Board, has assured American
interests that the ''bluff' of foreign
carriers that they could divert bust
ness from American ports will be
called. The shipping act was franz
ed, the congressional leaders say,
with full consideration of the fact
that the United States now has a
fleet of more than 1000 ships built
by the expenditure of more than
$4,000. 900. 900 of the taxpayers
money. and congress intends to take
care that they are probably en-
ployed.
State department officials, how
ever, are of the opinion hat the
discriminatory feature will cut our
hands" just as much as it will help
They point out that the new
shipping act does not remove any
marine abroad, but discriminates in
favor of the United States only in
importations. They a that there
is no power under the law to dicker
with any foreign nation, for exam
pie, Great Britain, for reciprocal
concessions. and this is an aspect
of commerce to which the tariff com
is giving special attention,
with a view to putting this country
in a position to r~eciprocate with
nations which treat us fairly and to
penalize nations that treat our COM
MERGE unfairly.
In most cases twelve months no.
tice must be given of abrogation of
the existing commercial treaties, and
in a few instances six months no.
tice. Although notification of GER
tain sections only of the thirty trea-
ties with twenty-five foreign govern
ments has been directed in the act,
it is the belief of the state depart
ment that for the most part entirely
new treaties will have to be negoti-
ated. because the part abrogated is
essential to the vitality of the entire
The discriminatory clauses in the
tariff act of 1918, which
been held in allegiance and thus
become operative. apply to all coun-
tries without exception. are briefly:
Cd a discriminatory duty of ten per
on goods imported in vessels not
of the limited States; and (2) u dis
count of five per cent of the duties
on goods imported into the United
States on vessels admitted to regis
ration under the laws of the United
States on vessels admitted to regis
tration under the laws of the United
States.