The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-01
u. S. TO FACE
UNITED EUROPE
IN TARIFF WAR
Battle Lines Already Laid;
May Herald Reign of
Unemployment.
FOREIGN TRADE HURT
Publicity Campaigns Begun
Against Purchase of
American Goods.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Seripps- Howard Foreign Editor

Seripps-Howard Foreign Editor
WASHINGTON, May 1.-Singly
and in coalition, the nations of Eu-
rope have declared war of self
defense against the United States
tariff.
If carried to its logical conclusion
the battle may fill American streets
with unemployed.
President Hoover, when secretary
Of commerce, called our foreign
trade our prosperity balance. What
the homo market could not absorb
the foreign market took off our
hands and kept our workers busy.
Last year Americas foreign
trade otaled $4,000, 100000. It was a
record year. Approximately $5,000,-
100000 worth of American products
were sold abroad.
But, European leaders now are
warning, the next few days will tell
a different story. Europe, crushed
by the war, is getting on her feet
again. Not only will Europe make
more Of the things she had been buy
ing from us for home consumption,
but she will cut the ground from
under Uncle Sans foreign trade as
we'll
Duties are Boosted
One by one the nations of Europe
are increasing the duty on ATneri-
can products. They are conducting
publicity campaigns against buying
American goods. They are Subsidiz-
ing, or otherwise encouraging, the
development of their own industry.
They are forcing American indus
trialists to build branch factories
in Europe and to use foreign mater
ialS and labor instead Of American
materials and labor.
They are bringing over American
technicians to teach them mass pro-
duction and efficiency methods.
And, last but equally significant,
they are rigging up international
trusts, better to compete with
American big business. An economic
United States of Europe is not an
impoSsibiIity in the near future.
The tendency, therefore, accord
ing to European observers, is for
American production costs to in
crease and for European production
costs to decrease. Logically, they
add. America soon must have to
depend solely on her own domestic
market, always a dangerous sltua-
ton for an industrial nation, be-
cause a slump under such condi-
tons means unemployment, and
unemployment means more slump.
FOREIGN markets are a vital outlet.
Evidence of War
I lust have returned from swing
round Europe. Everywhere 1 went 1
saw unmistakable evidence of the
coming commercial and industrial
var against the United States.
In England saw full page Amer
lean automobile ads in the news
papers, but in the same papers l
saw other full page ads calling on
the people not to buy any but
British made goods.
Unable to keep American auto
mobiles out by levying a SO per cens
duty on them, British automotlve
associations have rugged up all kinds
of trade rules calculated to shut
American manufacturers out of the
market.
In France I witnessed a parade OF
lace workers protesting against the
new high American duty levied
against their product. 1t would be
stupid not to expect the French gov
eminent to take cognizance OF
demonstrations of this kind when
framing their own schedules against
America.
European industry now is being
Americanized rapidly. Mass produc-
ton at low cost is the watchword
and American money is pouring into
almost every country in Europe with
which 20 push forward this process
of naturalization"