The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-11
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
By LUDWELL DENNY

MA AOAA4AN6 AO4Nb oSPG' A4'-SeiA
w paign demands for higher
tariff on corn as a farm relief meas
IRE have created a delicate diplo-
matte situation = 'th Argentina.
The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton and other farm organiza-
tions, in requesting the tariff COM
mission to recommend that the
President increase the corn duty
from is to 22l5 cents a bushel, are
attempting trade discrimination,
according to the Argentinians, who
are indignant over the proposal.
Pointing out that Argentine corn
constitutes 95 per cent of corn i'm
ports into this country, the Argen-
tine embassy here has informed the
tariff commission:
THE Argentine government looks
with deep concern to the results Of
this investigation; not because of
the material interests it affects, not
because of its possible effect on our
trade with the United States, but,
rather, because of the principles in
volYed, and the fact that If such
measure we're adopted it would add
to many others which unhappily in
recent times have been hampering
the importation of our products In
this market"
The corn dispute is aggravated
by a similar move for increase in
duties on flaXseed.
EEELING is reported running high
Il in the Argentine as a result of
this attempt at alleged discrimina-
ton, because of the cumulative eff
feet Of continuous trade disputes
with the United States during the
last four years, affecting beef,
grapes, alfalfa seed and other agri-
cultural products.
Almost the entire diplomatic coll
ony here is watching with SYM
pathy Argentina's newest trade
struggle with the Washington Gov
eminent because of the universal
unpopularity among foreign govern
mentS Of the so-called flexible pro-
visions of the American tariff law
OF 1922. Under that law the Presi-
dent may increase duties up to so
per cent, if in his judgment and in
vestigation of comparative produce
ton costs warrants such protection
for domestic producers.
Embarrassing situations are con-
stantly arising, it is said, because
foreign diplomats who normally are
expected to deal only with the State
Department are obliged to defend
their countries interests before the
tariff commission.
Canada, Spain, Italy and other
countries are at the moment in
volved by requests before the tariff
commission for duty increases on
such other farm products as milk,
cream, eggs, tomatoes, maple sugar,
peanuts and onions.
RUT the Argentine dispute is
- more acute because of the re-
cent change in diplomatic represent
tatives, Ambassador Puerrydon hay
! ing returned to his own country
after several years Of struggle here
over tariff increases and so-called
sanitary embargoes on Argentine
products.
Manuel Malbran, the new ambas-
sador, is waiting now to present his
credentials on the arrival of Presi-
dent Coolidge in Washington from
vacation.
The administration here is In an
especially difficult position because
Of the pressure from republican
politicians to give this "sop" to
the farmers before the election, and
the counter-pressure of American
business men whose important eX-
port trade with Argentina is suf-
fering from anti-Yankee sentiment
in that country resulting from our
alleged high tariff discrimination
policy.
At the same time the State De-
partment, with its Nicaraguan in
tervention policy so unpopular In
South America, is made uncomfort-
able by additional economic causes
hindering good international rela-
lions with such an important Latin
American country as Argentina.
n r.
THE reason Argentinians think
Il this corn tariff move is essen
TALLY matter of campaign expedi-
ency and In violation of economic
factors and justice, is reflected by
the following official statements of
the Argentine embassy to the tariff
| commission:
mo reason exists upon which to
base such an increase"
I'm consequence (of high tariffs
the value of the annual exports frora
Argentina to the United States UNI
der the existing tariffs has seldom
been as much as 60 per cent of the
value of exports from the United
States to the Argentine Republic"
"The tariff commission shows that
the farmers are themselves the con,
sumers of 81 per cent of (Anlerican)
corn products, and that there Is no
foreign competition in supplying the
small balance which is used for mill
ing and for manufacturing corn pro-
ducts"
Argentine corn is only used for
poultry feeding on the Atlantic and
the Pacific Coasts. Accordingly.
even if the price we're raised, 1t
woulo result only in adding to the
profit of farmers in the middle
western States at the expense Of
other farmers"
The embassy goes on to quote the
American delegation to the League
! l. a.