Evening star., 1920-02-29
FAIR TRADE, PEACE GUARANTEE

AUE UUAkANlEE
also in the case of the German kaiser
on his yacht in Tangier bay, accom-
panied by q battle cruiser, challenging
further French encroachment about
Morocco.
These among many others offer
typical instances of clashes bordering
on actual and imminent war which
the world was accustomed to witness
in connection with the terrific strug-
gle of different nations for CONNER
cial supremacy prior to 1914. These
irritating and dangerous economic
controversies usually arose out Of a
desire OF one or more nations to gain
greater control over markets for
their homo products and over larger
sources of raw materials needed for
manufacture at home.
The character and kind Of CONNER
cial strife thus briefly referred to has
undoubtedly been at
Cause Of Real least one of the un-
o..a.. derlying causes Of
e'' most wars in the
past The various nations could take
no wiser step than to come together
in an agreement henceforth to aban-
don as many of these trouble making,
don as many Of these trouble-making,
as 1t may be possible mutually to
agree upon.
The present is the most propitious
time to take action. The various COM
mercial nations are commencing to
readjust their economic affairs and to
devise both domestic and foreign trade
policies in the light Of the new con-
dLtions growing out of the war. 1t
would be folly. leaders in Congress
believe. to delay this proposal unless
the commercial nations Of the world
expect to lapse back into the old
trade channels and ruts which would
mean a general renewal OF all the
various and multftudinous unfair
methods. and resultant economic wars.
The only outcome of course SO
foolish and foresighted would be a
constant menace to the peace Of the
world.
It is the height of absurdity, not to
say sheer idiocy. Representative Hull
and those who are making the night
with him contend, for any American
citizen to attempt to persuade himself
that this nation can pursue policy at
least of financial and commercial
isolation The United States is today
the center of the finance, commerce
and industry Of the world. The value
Of our annual domestic commerce IS
visible foreign trade aggregates
twelve billions Of dollars. Our gov
ernment loans abroad are near ten
billion dollars and individual loans
about as much more.
This nation is launching great mer-
chant marine to carry our vast surplus
to all the important ports
Merchant and trade centers of the
=. world. The productive
M2I1e. power of the United States
has been greatly increased as result
of the necessities of the war. These en-
larged processes Of production will con-
tinue to produce a corresponding sur
plus in many important lines which must
find markets in foreign countries, II we
would avoid frightful stagnation with
all its ruinous consequences at home.
The biggest factor in our domestic
will be our foreign trade. 1t
is too plain for argument that financially
and commercially the important nations
everywhere are in state OF lnterde.
pendence. Financial and commercial
Of a country situated as Is ours
is utterly absurd. We must ship ana
those nations to whose economic inter-
est it is to buy them and in turn pur-
chase such raw materials, semt-manu-
factures and other products as may be
consistent with our economic interests.
The Hull resolution would prove 3
oil nj a.,
phases of unfair competition in inter
national commerce. leaders OF both big
political parties believe.
Federal Trade Commissioner Huston
picturesquely points out that
it Is that in spite Of the fact
that the laws Of Moses, the Tha1mud and
the statutes of many nations have out
lawed monopoly. man still is stupid
enough to try to strive for this bauble.
1t has always been the courtesan in
life."
There is every reason to believe that
this movement for an international
trade agreement congress
Success Ia will result in success.
Commissioner Thompson
IN olS4t. says. He bases his con-
viction on personal observation Of how
the control Of unfair practices and mo-
nopoly is yeasting in the minds Of Off
cials Of many great nations.
DR.. F. W. Taussig of tue United States
tariff commission also warns against the
likelihood of warfare resulting from
unfair methods in international COM
merce, for he said: 1T is strange that
trade between nations should play SO
large a part in fomenting wars and
warlike spirit"
The support Of republicans in Con-
press is being secured because they see
in the Hull resolution an up-to-date
of the principle advocated
BY President Mckinley in his famous
speech in Buffalo September s. 1901, I,
when he said:
.Our capacity to produce has de-
yeloped 30 enormously and our products
have SO multiplied that the problem Of
more markets requires our urgent and
Immediate attention. We must not re-
pose in fancied security that we can
forever sell everything and buy little or
nothing. The period Of exclusiveness
has passed. The expansion Of our trade
and commerce Ia the pressing problem.
wars are improbable. AL
policy Of good will and friendly trade
relations win prevent reprisals"
WILL p. KENNEDY.