The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-08-13
This Country's Officials Sold
Equipment There to Help
the People, Taking a Loss OF
300,
Agreement Was the Material
Would Not Be Dumped
Here, but S2,5oO,OOO Came
in June, 1921, Alone:
BV DaUid laurence.
Especial Correspondent Of The Eve
ninn Worldl

tSpeCIdt SOFTeBpOVoeVt tUe CNc
ming WorId).
WASHINGTON. Aug. 13.-(Copy-
right 1920 Members Of Congress
have been astonished this week by
the disclosures that the French Gov
ment had attempted to impose a
tariff duty on war materials shipped
to Fr, ice during the war.
Congress learned for the first time
that France insisted that il the Amer
ican Government attempted to carry
back to the United States the supplies
remaining after the armiSt .ce, duty
of about $3.50. .O0O, 600 would be imposed
AS a consequence Of this threat the
American Liquidating Commission
sold to France for 34OO. .OO0,O 900 property
originally valued at $1,7OO, 100000.
Not only did France agree TO waive
a tariff claim when the sale was made,
but promised that the goods would be
used to benefit the French people in
rehabilitatins devasted areas. Now it
turns out that the French Government
has sold most OF the property to spec
ulators and individuals, who are try.
ing to ship the goods TO the United
States and sell them here at cut
prices. The House of Representatives
has blocked the scheme, however. by
adopting a resolution imposing a
tariff Of 80 per cent. on all such goods.
So that none Of it will be dumped ON
American shores.
So far as the rest OF the world is
concerned, however. American auto
mobiles and trucks, leather and har-
ness goods, electrical equipment and
other American products which were
originally intended for the use Of the
Allied armies will be available at
prices far below those at which
American firms are offering their
own goods at this time.
No explanation was made in Con-
gress of the reason why the French
Government violated the spirit of its
understanding with the American
LiQuidating Commission and permit
ted the war material to fall into the
hands OF spectators. Indeed. the
American commission, Of which Ed
win B. Parker and Gen. Dawes were
memb bers. felt that in disposing OF the
American supplies at approximately
twenty-five cents on the dollar they
were doing a charitable thing.
,gtn nct nj h1xs
sold by the French Government to
business houses, which have already
sent to the United States, free OF
duty, over $2,5O0,O00 worth of goods
in the month OF June alon. In pre-
venting the entry of this kind Of
goods hereafter Congress takes the
position that it is merely protecting
American firms against unfair COM
petition.
incidentally, it has been disclosed
that the British Government did not
impose any tariff on goods sent from
the United States to Great Britain for
claims. The French Government set
up as a precedent the action of the
United states in dealing with surplus
stocks LETT in the Philippine Islands
at the close of the Spanish American
War, the usual customs duties being
paid on such tax.
AS a matter OF fact, the precedent
was not valid, because Spain was the
enemy of the United States at that
time, and not an ally. The American
commission, however realized that il
would cost a good deal of money to
guard the large supplies if they were
not disposed of to the French Govern
ment, and that it would take large
number of American troops to watch
the supplies.
So the American commission found
itself compelled to accept the French
terms, and consoled itself with the
idea that the supplies would find
their way in small quantities to the
French people, who would thus be
materially assisted in the WORK OF re-
construction