Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-20
us. TARIFF PROTEST
POSITION OUTLINED
Diplomatic Problems That
Arise Are Set Forth to
Give Causes.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Secretary Stimson'S letter to Senator
Metcalf. pointing out that various COM
munications from foreign sources in
correctly have been called protests
against the pending tariff bill, is thor
oughly understood by members of the
diplomatic corps as signifying that the
American Government technically. at
least, cannot be in a position of trans
uniting a protest against the opera
ton of domestic laws. unless. OF course,
they involve discrimination as between
foreign countries.
Much capital has been made Of the
proposed tariff law on the ground that
foreign opinion has reached the point
of governmental protest. Naturally, the
Department of State here as the cham
mel of communication between foreign
governments and Congress Is in posi-
ton of much delicacy, even in trans
hitting the communications. What the
department objects to, however. is that
any eXaggeration should be made of
the process by which foreign opinion
IS brought to the attention Of the
Senate.
StimsOn Gives Opinion.
"These communications have been
presented" says Mr.. StimSon, merely
for the information and consideration
of this Government. The interest
which foreign countries have evinced
in the present readjustment of the tariff
is perfectly normal. So far as our reg
ulations with foreign countries are con-
cerned there Is nothing new in the
present situation"
1t is customary for the Department
Of State to argue with foreign diplo-
mats that tariff matters are solely a
question Of domestic jurisdiction. That
&c kNNyp vi
ton in getting around the diplomatic
nicely of the situation merely presents
statistical data for the information
and consideration" of the American
Government. Whatever the foreign
countries may truly feel in the nature
of protest IS usually presented in the
press and in the speeches of. foreign
officials. There is no doubt from the
attitude of the embassies and legations
here that there exists in foreign coun-
tries widely expressed feeling of ap-
prehension less a new tariff law bring
about economic friction such as often
reflects itself in a disturbance Of good
feeling.
Unable to Go to Senators.
At no time is it possible for a foreign
government to appear before a Senate
committee and argue case. The De-
partment of State alone can take up
the issue If it feels that an interna-
tional incident is developing or If it
thinks serious damage is about to be
incurred through repriSals or retaliatory
measures.
The American Government, on the
other hand, within the last few years,
has had occasion to send formal pro-
test to the French government on the
tariff question, arguing that the regu-
lationS were not being imposed fairly
as between the United States and other
countries. Many treaties have provided
for what Is known as the favored ma
ton principle whereby the United States
agrees to give and expects to receive
whatever favorite treatment one nation
might. give to third nation. In this
way the tariff gets into diplomacy, but
there is nothing of that kind in the
present situation, since when the law
passes 1t will be applied equally against
all countries.
Meanwhile, the Department Of State
tee all the data received from foreign
sources, and it is believed that Ameri-
can commercial attaches abroad have
communicated informally their impress
Sions of the effect of the tariff. Until
the pending bill gets into final stages
it is not expected that much will be
heard from foreign countries. It is
known to the diplomats that the meas
ure which Is written by the majority
members of the Senate finance COM
mittee will be materially changed, not
only when the bill comes before the
Senate and the insurgent Republicans
when II gets into conference and
amendments have again to be made to
reconcile what the Senate win have
done with the rates as originally adopt
ed by the House.
Copyright. 1897