Evening star., 1925-05-24
Goods Across the Water.

The cause OF war-Stricken Europe
was well pleaded by Sir Esme Howard
British Amba dor. in his address Fri
day night to the American Iron and
Steel Institute. AS the American Am
ba bassador, Mr.. Houghton, speaking in
London recently. set forth 50 admira-
bly, the expectations of America with
regard to Europe. Sir Esme has set
forth the hopes OF Europe. including
Great Britain, with regard to the
United States. Both Amha ssadors
united in advocating international
peace as the sovereign remedy for the
ills of the world today. Mr.. Hou Chton
ture in faith. urging the nations Of
Europe to. greater faith in each other
and a consequent abandonment Of war
like preparations.
Agreeing that peace is great ad-
venture in faith. Sir Esme added that
il is also an adventure in hope and
charity. naming charity as the great
est Of all. The British are a proud peO-
pie, and, their AmhaSsadO declared
their intention to meet all obligations.
The steps which Great Britain has al
ready taken to meet her wartime oh
legations to the United States are the
best evidence of her intention. There
WAS no suggestion OF anything less in
Sir k,Sme's reference TO charity. But
he made a point that well may be
taken to heart by America and her
leaders Selfishness. in the end, is the
poorest policy.
The position of America today as
viewed from foreign eyes i interest
ing. A tariff wall that excludes to u
great extent the manufactured prod
ucts of Great Britain and other coun-
tries il further buttresscd by debts Of
Europe running into the billions. Sir
Esme pertinentiy asks how it may be
possible for Great Britain to pay her
debts to this country if the balance Of
trade against her is. to continue in
definitely. His plea in material terms
is for goods across the water BY
trade Britain can pay. Without trade.
she cannot pay. In. the end a good
customer CT the United States will
cease to be able to buy American
goods.
The United States il greatly blessed.
the industry Of the people. make
America a Nation that is practically
self-supporting and self-sufficient. The
country produces raw materials which
the rest of the world must have Brit
ain in particular. II is the surplus
production. the products which are not
consumed in America, but sold else
where. that greatly add to the wealth
of the Nation. Ii is this foreign trade
that marks frequently the mea sure be-
TO insure q continuance Of this trade
that America. speaking from a purely
business and non sentimental sta md
point. urges peace. for with peace in
dustry. paying ability and markets
are built up.
Sir Esme Howard, though paintin z
with light touch, has pictured a
gloomy situation. Unless something i,
done toward building up peace and
markets he sees world trade in a state
OF cola pse, with all the ills attendant.
Nor can the United States escape the
distress which would follow. he points
out, although the distress here might
be far less than in other countries
But the trade that today marks the
line between prosperity and hard times
in the United States may be wiped
out.
From q purely commercial view the
warning OF Sir F:sme is timely. 1t is
certainly worthy OF attention. Pros
parity should be conta giOus. 1t cannot
be confined entirely to one Of the ma
tons Of the earth as the world is now
constituted, and 10 the exclusion Of
the others. The voice Of Great Britain
through the mouth Of her Amba ssador
IL especially worthy of attention. since
Great Britains insistence upon Euro
pean and world peace is above sus-
picion, as Sir Esme has declared. ,-
America would never countenance a
cha &c in our laws which would break
down the industry OF the country. The
hard times resulting from postwar
conditions have not been ali outside
Of the United States. Agriculture. for
example, has gone through a disas-
trous experience here. But America,
for her own protection, must aid in
upbuilding her foreign markets.