Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-27
Rate by MaiI-PayabIe in Advance.
All Other States and Canada.
Tariffs as Foreign Affairs.


Because since time immemorial it
has been a foot ball OF their politics.
the American people are prone TO look
upon the tariff as exclusively dornes-
tic affair. Current events in Washing
ton are disproving that theory.
The ways and means committee Of
tllc House is busily engaged in fashion,
ing new tariff Not much about the
effect of their activities upon the out
side world has been brought to public
notice in the United States. AS a mat
ter of fact, many countries are fever,
ishly interested in them. Before the
incoming Congress in special session
has enacted the Hawley-Smoot tariff
bill we shall hear from abroad. and, by
all present indications, hear very vocif-
erou=Iy
The American protective system is
frankly a bulwark against foreign COM
petition That is its excuse. and legit-
innate excuse for existence. Nowadays,
however. with our one-tine infant in
eiustries'' grown into giants, it Is the
duty of statesmen to decide to what
extent they actually require protection.
If tariffs are raised to a point where
they embitter international friendships
or provoke destructive reprisalS In mar
kets essential to American export trade.
We cease to maintain a protective sys-
tenn. We substitute for it provocative
system.
Canada, our best customer. is case
IN point. The Department Of Commerce
has just reported that the Dominion
takes more of our exports than any
other country. In 1928 Canadians
bought 1916, 10000 worth Of our wares.
while we imported $489. 100000 worth
from them. Proposed hosting OF vari-
GUS American tariff schedules will work
immediate and direct hardships to Ca
madam exports to this country. 1t
would be the latest of many grievances
the Dominion holds against us in con-
sequence of recent decisions at Wash
ington.
There is more than meets the eye in
the lament of the Ottawa Citizen that
IF the good will of South America is
worth cultivating. surely the good will
of Canada is worth keeping" In more
candid strain, the Montreal Star OBJ
serves: The United States, in trade,
il treating Canada as II she were
penal colony. This has got to stop"
1t is not only the Canadians who
view with undisguised alarm the pend
ing drive in Congress for higher
tariff. Argentina is bitterly resensful
of an imminent customs embargo on
the bagatelle of million bushels OF
corn she sells us annually. The Argen-
tinians are our best customess in Latin
America. Spain threatens retaliatory
action for our increased tariffs on her
onions, pinientos and peppers and
threatened increase on tomatoes. Her
Malaga grapes are entirely barred.
The United States Tariff Commission
on LIle UdSiS vi plOuuNtiOI SSS'o 'AA S~NAH
countries, believes American tariffs on
imports from France must be increased.
Cuba, facing the prospect Of sitter
American rates on her sugar, fruits and
vegetables. has gone the length OF
warning US that these blows at her. vital
interests may mean the sbrogation Of
the Platt amendment--the arrangement
by which the United States remains in
virtual control of the island republics
foreign affairs
All these matters will be- erred when
Congress shortly Is convened by Presi-
dent Hoover to revise the tariff. There
are many psychological aspects OF his
advent TO the White House. For none
Of them has the country reason TO be
more thankful than the fact that so
worldly-wise Z statesman is likely TO
tread warilv before ssnctioning tariff
law loaded to the brim with dynamite
as far as our international relations are
concerned.