Milford chronicle., 1923-08-17
Europe Increases
Sales to the United
States 4OPer Cent

It is reported that officials of the
American Farm Bureau Federation
which assumes to speak for all the
farmers, but whose chairman is a
dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, attribute
the marked recovery of agriculture in
Europe with the resultant diminished
market for American farm products
to the high tariff rates, which dis
couraged manufacturing and caused
Europe to turn to the soil for a live
lihood."
That is interesting and illusory.
The official figures conclusively prove
that Europe is having a field day in
the American market, even under a
protective tariff law. Comparing 1922,
under the Democratic tariff law, with
1923, nine months of which was un-
der the Fordney-McCumber tariff law,
we find that imports from Belgium in
creased from AZ to 81 millions Of dol
lars; from Denmark, to 65 millions;
from France, 140 to 152; from Ger
many, 95 to 143; from Greece in Eu-
rope 10 to 20; from Italy, 81 to SO;
from the Netherlands, SO to 78; Nor
way, II to IS; Spain % to SO; Sweden,
% to 80; United Kingdom, 270 to 4S7.
There was just one decrease in the
countries listed, Switzerland, AZ to S5
millions of dollars. Notwithstanding
the demoralizations which have assail-
ed Germany and Greece, imports from
both increased, those from tile former
so per cent. The total imports from
Europe in 1922 were $831, 100000, in
1928 they were S1,162,000,O0O, an in
crease of 40 per cen. under the pro-
tective tariff compared with the DEM
ocratic law. And the great hulk of
our European imports consist of man
ufactured goods. No reason for them
to turn to tillage on that score.
There has indeed been revival of
agriculture in Europe since 192O-21.
Any farmer who expected Europe to
permit her fields to grow up to weeds
while she centered her affection on
manufactures for the American mark
ct has something the matter with his
think tank. A committee of econo-
mists appointed by the Secretary OF
Agriculture to make a special study
of the probable foreign demand for
American food products, recently filed
it's report, in which the following ap-
pears:
"The European nations are grad
ually approaching their pre-war
level in agricultural production, es-
pecially importing nations, which
are endeavoring to make themselves
Independent of outside food sup
plies. Twenty-one countries that in
1909 to 1913 harvested an average
Of 67OO0,O00 acres of wheat de-
creased to 5S,OOO,0O0 in 1920 and
then rose again to 60,00O,0OO in
1922. Eleven countries that harvest
ed 4S,OOO,OOO acres in 1920 and ST.
449,OOO acres in 1922 have reported
52,1SO,00O acres for 1928. Moreover,
crop conditions are much more faV-
orable this year. Revival of prOduc-
ton in Europe is much more mani
fest in agriculture than in manu-
facture."
The revival is not because of a di-
ninished market for manufactures IN
America, but because of the desire ITO
make themselves Independent Of out
side food supplies" a very commend
lble agricultural policy, and one
which the United States is supporting
o the best of it's ability.
The American Farm Bureau Fedora
ion which is so industriously work
ng to create dissension between the
and manufacturing inter-
sts of this country would do well to
GRITTY itself with facts before launch
ng into the ridiculous.