Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-06-30
INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION OF
SUBJECT URGED BY COM
~ MISSIONER cuLBERTsoN.
U. S. MIGHT PROPERLY cALL,IT
Expert Suggests Steps We Should
Take to Garry Out Our Announced
Policy of Equality of Opportunity
and the Open Door.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY


tional conference on the tariff. The
present tendency, he. points 'out, is to
adopt the bargaining methods-each
nation proceeding on its own hook, so
to speak.
Systems of determinations, espe-
cially between colonies and mother
countries, involve large political as
well as economic questions and should
preferably be considered in an inter
national conferences" said Mr.. Gull
bertson. "The object Of such con
ference should be the fullest consid-
Grafton of the advantages which would
accrue to all nations from the appli-
cation of principle of equality of treat
ment and the open door to all colonial
possessions and dominions as well as
to nations. Such a conference might
properly be called by the United
States"
Three Steps Advised.
Mr.. Culbertson suggests that ito car
ry out further our announced policy
of equality of opportunity and the
open door in commercial relations"
the following steps are desirable:
81. In revising old and negotiating
new commercial treaties, we should
adopt the unconditional form and in
depreciation of the most-favored ma
ton clause. We would thereby estab-
fish a basis on which to insist upon
equality of treatment in the markets
| of foreign nations and by which. con-
cessions In our tariff that may be
granted through negotiations will au-
tomatically be extended to other ma
lions and Determinations be effectively
prevented.
"2. If this treaty policy is adopted,
we can then properly adopt the sup
Elemental policy of negotiating for
the minimum rates granted by foreign
countries by granting such reductions
In our tariff schedules as may be au-
thorized by the congress for the pur-
pose of promoting our foreign trade.
20. AS a supplement to this conces-
sional method, or Independent of 1t,
we should place in the hands of the
President the power to penalize dis
examinations against our overseas
commerce. Additional duties APP
piled at the discretion Of the President
and in degree to fit each case will
remove many determinations, open or
concealed which could not so easily
be reached by the slower method of
negotiating general tariff treaties.
"Tariffs are becoming Of greater and
greater Importance in International re-
lations," continued Mr.. Culbertson.
"They have been employed for the
purposes of fostering domestic indus
try and of raising revenue. But in
addition to these Industrial and fiscal
uses, tariffs are used for the purpose
of determining with what countries
| trade shall be increased and with
/ which it shall be diminished. Even
more important in international rela-
lions than the height of tariffs has
become the practice Of preference In
| tariffs. Tariffs have thus come to
have international political aspects es
well as domestic economic effects.
Methods of Negotiating.
"In the United States this foreign
aspect of the tariff has, at least until
! recently, been regarded as incidental
and has been taken up more or less
as an afterthought,
Tariff negotiations may be carried
on by two general methods
IA. BY the confessional method
that is, by establishing by Legislative
enactment level of duties and then
by means of treaty negotiations with
| foreign countries. conceding reduc
| lions either to rates previously fixed
by law or to points agreed upon dur
ing negotiations.
"B. BY the penalty method, that Is
by imposing additional duties on the
imports from foreign country in or
der to obtain from that foreign cOun
try a more advantageous position in
its markets.
1.-THE confessional method is ,typified
by. the maximum and minimum and BY
the general and conventional tariff
systems Of European countries and OF
Japan. The same principle is involved
in the general and intermediate sched
tiles of Canada, Australia, and New
4 Zealand. <-~s
"The reciprocity policy pursued by
the United States under sections Sane
of the DingIey tariff act (1S97) lone
OF the early attempts in the Unitet
States to adopt general reciprocit,
policy, was in the nature of an appli
cation Of the confessional method
The pending tariff bin as it passed
the house of representatives proposed
to restore this method Of negotiation
with foreign countries, but the com
mittee on finance declined to indoors,
It."
Policy on Trusts Awaited.
The administration will shortly
SO persons who are authorized I.
speak for it say, define its att.
tude with respect to trusts. A re