Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-11
PROTESTS BRING CLASH.

A sharp clash between Republicans
and Democrats yesterday followed the
publication of communications from
governments and commercial interests
of three countries expressing concern
over the proposed increases in Ameri-
can tariff rates.
From the Democratic side came
charges that the complaints represented
worldwide resentment over the House
measure, which Is now before the Sen
ate finance committee, which made
public the communications upon receipt
from the State Department.
Republican spokesman denied this.
Protests Not Unusual.
While agreeing that foreign protests
were not unusual when American tariff
reviSions were in progress, the Demo-
Gratis declared such flood Of foreign
reaction never before was experienced.
Chairman Smoot of the finance COM
mittee minimized the situation, denied
a statement by Senator Harrison, Dem
ocrat, Mississippi, that 80 nations had
protested, and contended the Demo-
Gratis would vote for rates even higher
than those now carried in the bill on
certain agricultural products with which
the notes deal at length.
Who is so simple as to believe there
will be a duty on bananas or coffee. or
an increase on most of the items
named?" he asked.
After reading Senator Shoots state
ment, Senator Harrison issued another,
declaring the chairman attempted to
hide behind the assertion that most
of the protests filed are against in
creases on agricultural products"
That is shan3 and pretense." Har-
riSon said, adding that Il nations had
nrntQSt6d ONvnrnmpnfe and had mt
confined their complaints to one or two
articles, but to long list Of commodi-
ties.
Hope Full Text Is Published.
Referring to summary of the COM
Shoots office, the Mississippi Senator
declared 1t was hoped that the full
texts of these protests will be published
and not partisan summaries by the
chairman of the finance committee.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Okla
homa, joined in the attack on the bill
Calling attention to what he said was
report that an amendment to the bill
was planned to provide for an embargo
measures against this country, the
Senator declared, "a more impractical,
tnopportune and undiplomatic sugges-
ton could scarcely be made"
The American Tariff League an
nounced that in response to a reported
threat on the part of certain foreign
countries to use the International
Chamber Of Commerce now in session
in Amsterdam as an agency through
which to attack the American tariff, it
had taken steps to combat this move
Expressing belief that most of the
foreign opposition is based upon misin-
formation, the League officials sent to
Julius N. Barnes, an American repre-
sentative at Amsterdam, information
with which to oppose possible action by
|. the chamber.
Among the sharply-worded documents
made public yesterday was that from
the Spanish government, which threat
ened announcement" of the existing
most-favored nation trade relations with
the United States should various rates
in the House bill become law, and to
this, Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon
had attached an opinion, which de-
clared the Treasury was without au-
thority to give Spanish imports any
more favorable treatment than is given
imports from other countries, but if
the importers of Spanish products feel
that they are being Disseminated
against, they have, of course, the right
to protest and to secure determination
Of the question at issue by our courts"