Evening star., 1927-05-04
ARGENT|N|AN HITS
AMERICAN TARIFF
At TRADE SESSION
Pan American Delegates
Talk Brings Warm Defense
by J. H. Fahey of Boston.
SENSATION CREATED
AS HARMONY BREAKS
South American Says His Group
Adopts Motto: BUY From Those
Who Buy From U.s."

Harmonious relations at the sessions
of the third Pan-American Conference
reached a critical stage today when
American tariff barriers to the free
exchange of commodities were vigor-
ously attacked by Luis Duhau, presi-
dent of the Argentine Rural Society.
and as warmly defended by John II.
Fahey of Boston, former president of
the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States.
Following in the wake of President
Coolidge's address last night, in which
he assured the pan-American delegates
Of the United States aims only at
commercial cooperation in it's deal.
ings with Central and South America,
the attack on this Governments tariff
policy created a sensation at the con-
ference session today.
Indicates Retaliatory Measures.
The controversy was precipitated by
Mr.. Duhau in an address. during
which he declared: "It is not upon
the shifting sands of commercial
prejudices that inter-American soli-
darity should be built, but upon the
solid ground of economc liberty" In
explaining why the Argentine Rural
Society had proclaimed as it's motto.
Buy from those who buy from us,
Mr.. Duhau indicated retaliatory meas
ures by Argentine commercial inter-
ests if readjustments Of the American
tariff are not made soon by Congress.
Rejecting the sentiment of the Ar
gentine Rural Society and likewise a
great proportion OF south american can
business associations, Mr.. Duhau pre-
sented to the conference the following
resolution:
'The development of pan-American
interchange must be sought principal
ly in the gradual reduction OF GUS
toms duties.
att is desirable that commercial diff
ficulties that may arise between
American nations be previously
studied by commissions of business
men interested in promoting COM
mercial interchange"
Referred to Committee.
This resolution, which viii be the
subiect Of much discussion during the
remaining days of the conference,
was referred to the resolutions COM
mittee in accordance with the rules
under which the conference Is 1unc-
tioning.
"The principle, Buy from those
who buy from u.s. does not constitute
our final aim" declared Mr.. Duhau
in resuming his attack on American
tariff barriers. "It Is not the express
sion of our permanent international
economic policy, it is only an emer-
qency measure to be employed while
the customs barriers that suffocate
the economic development OF nations
exists.
'The conviction that the gradual
overthrow of customs barriers VIII
bring to all countries the classical ad-
vantages of international commerce
inspires exactly the economic asplra-
tions of Argentine's agragrians, free
from all artful interpretations of ma
tionalisms.
''These reasons" Mr.. Duhau added,
"refiect a frank and sincere attitude
which we owe each other in the ef-
fort to study our commercial diff
culties."
Tariff of Fiscal Nature.
The antagonism of Argentine to ex-
listing tariff barriers, Duhau said,
should be REINFORCED with measures
pending to oppose the investment in
our country of chemicals proceeding
from countries that discourage impor-
tation of Argentine products. This
is because of the simple reason that
having to meet the financial services
Of those loans through the expectation
of merchandise, and not being able to
merchandise into the credit
or's market. we would be forced to
export to those markets which are
already overloaded with our pro-
duction."
After pointing out that the Argen-
tine tariff was principally upon indus
trial articles and that with respect
to those goods coming from the United
States sit has a fiscal rather than
protectionist character" he went on
to state that "on the other hand, al
most all the duties falling on Argen-
tine products in the United States are
become prohibit in some cases. For
instance, he added, that is what hap
pens to beef and wheat imported
from Argentina in significant quanti-
ties.
Beef GIuts Market.
''In regard to beef, our present ex-
cessive supply is glutting the Brit
ish market, whose reduced merchan-
dising power has lowered prices, seri-
ously harming our cattle producers.
III this country allowed the yearly
entrance of 50,000,000 pounds of Ar
gentine beef, that amount would only
represent the relatively small proper
ton of 5 per cent of the total con-
But the same quantity
would constitute 2S per cent Of Ar
yentina's average exports of dressed
beef in the past decade, and 1913 per
cent OF an expectation calculated at
800 100000 pounds"
Mr.. Duhau declared the starting
point of this economic movement
rests on the rank revision of GUS
oms tariffs. This object should be
cached through the establishment of
| permanent board Of business men
Ind institutions from both countries
Interested in interchange" he said.
That board would study the complete
mechanism of trade in all it's details,
or this cannot be done during the
'hort period of the congress.
Il offer these suggestions to the
American business men assembled
iere, and am ready to help all those
rou may put forth"
Fahey Introduces Resolution.
The, upshot of today's free-for-all
discussion of tariff barriers was
offered by Mr. Fahey com.
hitting the Pan-American Union to
he following program:
Resolved, That the governing board
Il the Pan-American Union direct
of statistics which upon
will be useful to all mems
,ers OF the union in arriving at 4
,omplete~ understanding of barriers.
echnical and otherwise, to trade be-
lcontipued on Page ., Column q