Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-27
British Tariff Uncertainty
Impressive to This Country

/ chasing boards which would be given Q
monopoly of the business Of importing
wheat and perhaps wool, cotton, meat
and certain raw materials" Doubt as
to ANY definite immediate action" Is
expressed by the Post-Dispatch, with
the comment, THE whole temper Of
the proceeding reveals an overwhelming
sentiment for increasing the economic
unity of the empire. ~ faar1 srsssa
"An the delegations to the confer
ence," as understood, by the Chicago
interests of the empire TO those Of It's
respective independent members. The
nation first, the empire second, il the
slogan at the conference. That prin-
ciple implies O degree of interimperial
preference that will not hamper the de-
velopmsnt of the industries Of the
several dominions. How much actual
economic benefit would such preference
confer upon Great Britain? Stats
ticians assert that the net benefit would
be too small to justify the adoption Of
q protective-tariff policy by the mother
country. In the second place, respon-
sible statesmen must consider the prob
able reaction of British consumers to @
proposal to revert to taxation of food
stuffs. The average Briton Is q good
imperialist, but he does not want his
food taxed and his living standard re-
duced in order that speculative advan-
tage may be conferred upon the far from
altruistic dominions He prefers other
remedies for empire problems"
The purchasing system IL considered
by the Hartford Courant Is one which,
IF espoused by the Labor party, would
leave only the Liberals standing true
to the traditional policy Of free trade"
The Muncie Star recalls opposition to
bulk purchasing by the Canadian pre-
mier, and remarks: "The imperial dele
gates are not lacking in loyalty TO the
mother country, but they have attained
sufficient political and economic self
sufficiency to demand adequate pro-
tection for their own trade. Canada,
for example, does not object to the
erection Of q tariff wall around the
empire, but it insists on q suficient
barrier for its own benefit. The recent
election was won under q Canada frst'
slogan and Premier Bennett Is frankly
concerned with the primary Importance
of protecting domestic industries. He
has no more intention OF allowing the
market to be flooded with British goods
than of permitting such an invasion
from the United States"
by the Newark Evening News, ito
switch her trade from US and the
Argentine to her cominions, If they will
follow suit. The principal reason why
the dcminions cannot adopt Englands
proposal is that a change in the mother
country's government Is not improbable.
If the Conservatives, who have adopted
protection, should displace the free
trade Laborites, the whole machinery
OF state-controlled purchasing agencies
necessary TO Labor's plan would be
strapped, and tariffs would again have
to be considered, balanced, leeislated."
IF Philip Snowden, chancellor OF the
exchequer, was thinking Of the United
States when he attacked the protective
tariff as destroyer of political in
tegrity end as a slippery slope that
leads to a bottomless pitt" asks the
Baltimore Sun, lust what could he
have HAD in mind? But 1t
seems that he must have been locking
overseas for his inspiration. If he was,
an outline Of what he saw, phrased
with the fierce candor for which he is
noted, should command world attention.
and perhaps chagrin. 1t might also
serve, in some measure, as a sedative
for the frenzy Of tariff wall building
with which the world is at present
sitting its trade. And, at any rate, It
is certain that it would make lively, If
not sweet, reading. It is to be hoped,
and probably not vainly. that he viii
bring IN q bill Of particulars"
A new factor in British affairs is
seen by the st. Louis Times, which
states on the subject: THE dominions,
% far. have developed almost exclusively
on agricultural and kindred ines-tAAt
Is, they produce - rs and raw ma
terials. Nov, however, they are ct the.
stage when they aim ut prog1es In
manufacture, and they want pretec-
ton fer infant industries The news
from London suggests that the Labor
and Conservative parties probably win
seek to work out compromise plans. so
that both the peoples of Great Britain
and OF the deminions Will be satisfied.
1t is in handling such q proposition as
this that the Liberal leader. Mr.. Lloyd
George, known as great opportunist,
is at his best