The Washington herald., 1921-05-19
WARNS WORLD
AGAINST DRIFT
TOCLOSEDOOR
Sec. Hoover Says Equal
Trade Is Vital to
Peace.
LAYS NATIONS
AID COMMERCE
|Scores Trend as Danger
ous If u. S. Enters
In Race.

NEW YORK. May 1s.-Herbert
Loover, Secretary of Commerce
esded for free competition in IN
rnational trade, equal to oppor-
mites and the open door
licy, he declared. to which the
hited states has long been pledged
land warned that if the day comes
when America il forced to abandon
that policy, it will be day OF IN
tnfte loss to progress and liOerSi-
lism," in his address before the Ma
|,ionaI Association Of Manufacturers
here tonight
Il am not going TO talk about the
tariff" Mr.. Hoover declared ior
xbat we do, or do not do, REGARD
ing the tariff is immalerial SO long
as We treat all nations equally we
ask no special favors for ourselves
but an equal opportunity.
Are Closing Door.
..rbere is a rapid drift in many
Countries away from the open door,
and it has a DIRECT reflection upon
ne We find that many nations are
restricting development of naturai
-eSonrces within their boundaries 10
tbeir own citizens. There is but one
t,-,-, of restriction with which we
have sympathized-that those VINO
cor,e within our borders to labor
shall he of q type and number tnat
1.nl melt into our population. THIS
il mot a restriction upon commerce.
I'VE tind today that various gov
garments are directly, or indirectly
Leading influence and, support to Sc
crre for their nationals in countries
foreixn TO the exclusive concessions
over raw materials and the ImplS-
r,ents of commerce. This VIII smut
the door and close equality OF op-
portunity."
score. Inpert Combines
Mr.. Hoover scored the "encour-
arement given to combinations OF
importers" and the creation Oh
great trusts whose activities can
dominate the efforts of individual
merchants of other nationalities In
foreign trade" ard declared that mrs
1epfcsented a tendency towards mil
liant exploitation and domination OF
commerce of which the whole COM
uercial world must take notice
1T can" he said, become men
ace to the peace of the world.
This is not a threat. he con-
cluded. nor is it an announcement
of a national policy. 1t Is plea
that the world should stop lOoh
and listen. For if the day comes
when the United States, with her
gigantic resources and the intelll-
gence of her people, shall be forceo
to enter upon these courses in her
own protection. it will be day
of INFINITE losses to real progress
and real liberalism"
Admiral W. S Benson. chairman
of the Shipping Board, also ad-
dressing the association. declared
that the last few weeks had shown
material progress in the adjustment
of a vexatious labor system.
u. =. Independent.
America is ship independent" he
said. America will remain so. You
men representing the great manu-
featuring plants of these United
states can make or mar American
opportunity. That opportunity is
.sbip and sail in American snips.'"
Turning to the marine strike, Ad-
miraI Benson declared:
The outstanding question in the
present controversy is whether the
arbitrary exercise of power under
leadership is to be allowed to de-
feat the determined power of the
American people to maintain upon
the high seas a merchant marine
under their own flag"
Admiral Benson told the associa-
tion that reports from all ports
continued to be encouraging. and
that the movement of ships is go
ing steadily on. He declared that
the wage reductions sought by the
Shipping Board were moderate and