Evening star., 1925-06-25

1nternatIonaliSm Is 'a-horSeback
this week in the third congress Of the
International Chamber of Commerce,
in session in Brussels. Speakers rep
resenting Belgium and Great Britain
have declared that the only way that
Germany can make payments OF
reparations according to the Dawes
especially the United States-to lower
tariff barriers so as to create a ready
market for German products.
Willis Booth, the outgoing presi-
dent Of the International Cham.
Der Of Commerce, said in his retiring
speech that the Dawes plan has
demonstrated it's practicability. But
the incoming president, NJ. Despret,
a leading Belgian banker. rhetorically
asked:
rs it really possible to pay and
receive Of thousands Of millions? Will
there not be disastrous consequences
to him who pays and him who re-
ceives? And, failing payment in cash,
how can he get paid? If the debtor
country pay in goods, to what extent
can it do so without harming the
creditor country which produces the
very goods we must accept? And,
failing goods, can the debtor country
ices can be rendered without causing
prejudice to the creditor country's In
dustry, trade and labor?"
The whole argument raising the
problem Of the impossible Is said to
be aimed at an attack on the United
States tariff barrier against German
dumping of goods onto our markets,
at prices which would compete with
American products, and thereby
throw many American workingmen
out Of employment. For, It Is pointed
out that, although America has no
claims for reparations against Ger
many. we cannot hope to collect our
loans from the allies unless they can
collect their reparations claims from
Germany. This argument is vigor-
ously combated by American protec-
tionists.
Former Senator Porter J. McCum-
ber, Joint author with Representative
Fordney Of the present protective tar
If, answers the challenge OF M. Des-
pret, that Germany can sell her goods
to other markets Of the world where
higher wages and greater cost of PRO-
duction. For example, Germany has
a large trade in Central America in
cheap tools for carpenters. 1t meets
the demand Of that market, though
when a carpenter wants a really fine
tool he comes to the United States
market for It, Germany produces
cheap textiles in brilliant colors, such
as are demanded in South America
and Africa. Our manufacturers do
not undertake to compete in that line.
But" adds Senator McCumber. IF
we never collected a dollar Of our
European credits, we cannot afford to
demoralize our own producers by per-
mitting overcompetitfon from Ger
many"
A leading member Of the Tariff
Board, who requested that his name
be not quoted because Of his official
position. points out that the assump-
ton that we must buy from a country
in order that that country may buy
from us, Is false economics. Further
more, he argues, experience shows
that, on the whole, we buy most when
we have full protection for our own
industries. The reason Is that pro-
lection assures maximum employment
for our own workers, and that means
increased prosperity and increased
purchasing power.
"In actual practice" the Tariff
Board member points out, lit is not
true that one country must buy from
another country in order that that
country may buy from the first, for
it is not the country, but the indi-
vidual, who does the buying, and he
will always buy where he can get
goods more advantageously than else
where? It Is at least three-sided, as a
rule. The German may sell in South
America. and take the money he thus
receives to buy in the United States.
Germany Will develop her trade in the
world markets on the merits of what
she produces, and she is not depend