Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-23
COLONIAL TARIFF POLICIES

The United States Tariff Commits
sion has just issued report on Col
onial Tariff Policies. 1t describes the
tariff policies and certain phases Of
colonial administration in the colon
| les of Great Britain, France, Italy,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal,
Spain Japan and the United States.
1t also deals with the mandate ter
ritories created from the former Ger
man colonies and the Turkish Empire.
Because Of the development Of Anne
rican export trade and the increas-
ing dependency upon certain raw ma
terials produced in colonial areas be
cause of the growth Of American
shipping and the extension of our in
vestments in foreign countries, the
United States is becoming more and
more concerned with the commercial
policies pursued by the great powers
in their colonial possessions.
The self-governing Dominions Of
the British Empire, Canada, Australia
New Zealand and South Africa, have
evolved since 1897 an elaborate sys-
tenn Of imperial preferences. The ten
lency has been for these preferences
20 increase as against forign goods,
but the minimum tariff imposed on
British products has always been in
,ended to protect the young industries
which have been developing in the
Dominons. In 1919 Great Britain her
self followed the Dominions in estab-
fishing preference and granted pre-
ierential treatment to all Empire
goods on those articles dutiable in
ner market. This action in Great Brit
ain is a significant reversal OF her
open door position and has already
begun to show its effect in the tariffs
Of the Crown Colonies.
The Netherlands IN recent years
have maintained the open door in
their important colonies as has Bel
GUM in the Congo. All the other pow
ars have to greater or less extent
granted preferential treatment to ma
.ional products in their colonies and
also have granted colonial goods pre-
ferential treatment in their markets.
The United States has followed the
policy of preference in both Porto
Rico and the Philippines.
The mandate territories are dlvld-
ed into Glasses A, B, and c. The draft
mandates for Class A at the present
time provide for equal treatment OF
members Of the League of Nations.
The Covenant Of the League of Ma
lions provides for the open door in
Class B. In the case of Glass c it per
mits assimilation, and Southwestern
RIGA has already been assimilated to
tariff system of the mandatory, and
discriminatory measures have been en-
forced in Western Samoa and New
Guinea.
The Commissions report discusses
these and kindred subjects in detail;
It analyses tendencies, gives statistics
and laws what is believed to be a
foundation upon which this Govern
ment may frame Il commercial policy
relating to the great colonies OF the
world
This subject Of colonial tariff poll
cies forms an increasingly important
problem in the adjustment of the
commercial relations of nations and
should be considered in enactlng any
legislation affecting commercial
agreements or in adopting any mea-
sures to formulate the commercial pol
icy of this country. Industrial nations
are becoming more and more depend
cnt upon the great colonial areas
which constitute half Of the earth's
surface and it will contribute to har-
mony and good will in the world if
these problems can be settled through
conference. The policy adopted by the
United States in the present state Of
International relationships Will doubt
less have its influence on the policies
of other colonial powers.
Copies of the report "Introduc-
tory Survey of Colonia Tariff Poll
cies" may be obtained for 10 cents
from the Superintendent Of Docu-
m6nts, Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. G..
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