The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-14
MENACE IS SEEN
FOR j. S.PAPER
INDUSTRY
Canadian Embargo on Pulp
Wood Feared-May Turn
to Alaskan Forests.
By GEORGE e. DURNO.
international News Service.

JmtAFnAt1OHh0l NEWS SeFV1COs
Diplomatic negotiation is the only
thing that can save the American
paper industry from the demoraliSa-
ton threatened by a possible Ca
madam pulp-wood embargo, officials
here admitted today.
No avenue OF escape presents Il.
self against the prospect If Q haR
against shipments OF Canadian logs
into this. country, IL was conceded
following q comprehensive study OF
the situation, except direct appeal
to the sensibilities OF the Dominion
government.
Should the Canadian governor
general exercise the authority TO
impose the embargo, as vested in
him by his parliament, experts here
foresee a general shutting down OF
American paper mills, with sub.
sequent wave Of unemployment In
that industry, an increase in the
price of all newspapers and period
Gals, and diminution in the size.
See No Redress.
A careful survey has developed
that-outside of Congressional &C.
tion-there is no means Of retaliat'
ing against the Canadian govern.
ment. Nothing in the tariff laws
will serve as weapon, and. while 1t
would be possible theoretically for
the Interstate Commerce Comruis'
sion to impose an embargo on ship
ments Of anthracite coal into Can.
ada through service orders, it Is not
believed this step would be effica.
cious. Users OF hard coal, when de.
prived Of that commodity. rapidly
accustom themselves to ,bituminous
coal, it was pointed out, while no
domestic fuel emergency exists
which would give the commission
the ethical right to impose such an
embargo.
Members of the Canadian parlia.
nent are understood to have gone
over the question of possible Aner1.
can retaliation most carefully al
the time the action was taken which
makes the laying Of an embargo on
puIp.wood possible, and convinced
themselves Canada would not suffer
for the step. In this American OF
ficials now concur, and 1t is admit
ted that should Canada actually
move to center all phases of the
paper industry in the Dominion
nothing can be done.
The State Department has taken
up the matter most earnestly,
pointing out to the Canadian au-
thorities the extreme hardship 1t
would work on American industry,
and calling attention to the fact
that last winter, despite the serious
ness of the fuel shortage in this
country, shipments of anthracite
coal to Canada were continued un.
abated. Hope has been expressed
that mo such action will be taken
as is implied in the authority grant.
ed the governor general to impose
an embargo"
Hope i'm Alaska.
One possible outlet in event the
restriction is laid down is being
snatched at eagerly by American
manufacturers. That outlet is
and Secretaries Hoover and Wallace
are at present reviewing the situa.
ton. Should wood shipments from
Canada be stopped, 1t would be pos.
Sible to draw upon the yet unex.
plotted Tongass spruce forests in
southeastern Alaska.
Only prohibitive action by Canada.
however, would make this practica.
bic. In direct competition with the
organized logging industry of Can.
ada, few men would care to risk the
money on exploiting Alaskan for.
ests, but IL the Canadian forests
were closed to America, manufac.
turers and publishers here might be
willing to take the chance and de-
velop this enormous project.
Every possible aid would be given
the industry by the Government
should this step become necessary,
but for the present all hopes are
being pinned on. Secretary Hughes
and the State Department.