Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
COUNTRIES.
PROTEST TARIFF .
Thirteen Declare Projected
Increase in Customs Duties
Threatens Disaster TO Trade.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Passage OF the Hawley tariff bill b.
The House of Representatives. with the
prospect that the Senate may boost
rates even higher foreshadows serious
clashes between the United States and
10 or more foreign governments. While
the ways and means committee was
fashionins the highest tariff system
ever proposed in American history, no
fewer than IS different countries
launched formal protest at the state
Department Each and all Of them
represented that the projected increases
in American customs duties threatened
disaster to their trade in this country
In one or two cases Ambassadors and
Ministers left little doubt with Secre-
tary Kellogg. and later with Secretary
Stimson. that If the contemplated
changes in our tariff should actually be
enacted, reprisals would be almost In
evitable. REPRESENTATIONS on this score
we're particularly pointed from Argen-
tina and Cuba.
The countries which have officially
informed Uncle Sam that the Hawley
tariff gravely inks them are Argentina.
Canada. Great Britain. Australia, Tur-
key. Persia, Cuba, Spain. France and
Bermuda. Three other countries
Honduras. Guatemala and Costa Rica--
registered protests against the levyinR
OF tariff on bananas, which. was pro-
posed in the interest Of oregon apple
growers. But tha ways and means
committee did not listen to the Ore
CONAN suggestion that keeping out
bananas would whet the American Ap-
petite for apples, so the Central An1eri-
can fruit industry escapes the blight
Of the Hawley bill
Argentina Much Disturbed.
Argentina is in state Of high
to visit upon her important exports TO
the United States. The Argsntinian
press this week Is ringing with de-
mands that the newspapers Of the
country and the public generally shall
adopt methods cf elf-preservation
against the United States. inasmuch as
the Argentinian government proved it
self incapable OF staving Of higher
American tariffs.
There is a plain implication that
| boycott Of American goods In Argentina
may ensue 1t Is the United States best
customer in Latin America, buying
twice as much from US as We buy from
the Argentinians. The 100 per cent In
crease on beef is especially obnoxious
TO them, although the higher rates on
WOOL corn and faxseed are hardly less
serious. One-third Of all Argentinian
sales to this country consists Of flax
seed, which Is the basis Of American
linseed oil production.
Canada has formally warned the
State Department that she would be
in no mood to give further considera-
ton to her end Of the Great Lakes-St.
Lawrence waterway unless the Donlin-
ion receives O square deal from the
United States with regard to tariffs on
, Canadian farm produce and fsh. The
Hawley bill holds out slender hope on
these scores to the Canadians, despite
the fact that they are far and away
the greatest buyers Of American goods
in the world. Canada is vitality hit by
the higher duties on farm produce and
dairy products like cattle. lard, milk.
cream and other articles. The Dominion
becomes the principal goat Of American
agriculture's clamor for more protection
against foreign competition.
Great Britain Protests.
Great Britain protests the Hawley
bills proposed increases in the rates
on wooden textiles which enter the
United States In large quantities and
are used in the clothing trade. France
10 months ago protested against i'm
pending tariff increases on a long list
of French goods. but subsequently con-
fined her representation to the Amer
lean method Of evaluatins French i'm
ports. Turkey and Persia are sggrieved
over the advance In the ad valorem
duty en- expensive rugs from 40 to
go per cent. The Turks are partic-
ularly sore because, without waiting for
the United States Senate to ratify the
Lausanne treaty, they gave this coun-
try INSTRUMENTATION tariff treat
ment. Agitation has been in progress
In Turkey for some time to withdraw
this concession to American goods in
case the Hawley tariff turned out to
be unfair to the Turks. Spain, which
also gives us INSTRUMENTATION treat
ment, Is angry over higher American
tariff rates on Spanish peppers, al
monds, pimentos. tomatoes and onions
Australia is hit by the Hawley rates on
raw wool.
Csechosloyakia's grievance against III.
Hawley bill is its destructive stroke at
that country's big American sales Of
ladies' shoes laces and porcelain ware:
The market for popular grade OF
/ sandals" in this country Is now prac-
tically dominated by the Czechoslo-
vakians. They have been coming in
duty free and in enormous quantities
but now face 20 per cent import tax
I Cuba is probably more disastrously
| affected than any ether one country.
The protests which the island govern
| ment necessarily made at Washington
throughout the Winter and Spring were
! ignored, with the result that the tariff
on Cuban sugar Is raised in the Havley
bill from 1.76 to 240 cents a pound
| Cuban "uinter veretablgs" are also hit
hard by the proposed new tariff rates
| How far the Cubans are determined to
go In repeating the Plat amendment
which gives toe United States control
over their foreign affairs-in retaliation
for the Hawley bill Is something now
giving the state Department food for
! anxious thought.
| (Copyrisht, 1927