Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-12
Tariff Action by Canadians
Arouses Conflicting Views

Increases Of Canadian tariff rates are
believed by most Americans to be dam
aging to the export business Of the
| United States. The charge that the
Dominion is retaliating American tariffs
Is a matter Of debate, the more favor
able attitude being that Canada is
merely following the example Of the
United States in protecting its own
producers. Between the two interpre-
tationS of the motives involved Is the
suggestion that Canada may be estab-
fishing the scientific basis for reci-
procity.
Motives need not be impugned, but
the international consequences Of gov
ornamental policies and actions must be
considered and frankly pointed out"
advises the Chicago Daily News, which
holds that certainly it does not lie in
the mouths of the Shoots and other
champions Of high protection to COM
plain Of Canada's many notable in
creases of duties or Of the preference
extended to the products of Great Brit
ain and other British dominions," and
that ''any country is entitled to help
itself to skyscraper tariffs" AS to the
Canadian attitude the News remarks.
1t Is perfectly clear that the Bennett
government is going to build up Canada
industrially at the cost of producers in
this country, so far as it can contrive
to do So" recalling that "Mr. Bennett,
when in opposition, demanded a brick
for-brick' tariff policy"
A difference in point of view Is men
toned by the Seattle Daily Times. which
states that 'it has been our purpose to
impose tariff duties that would offset
the cheaper labor in foreign countries. "
but suggests that lust now our neigh
- l. y, &lvv n
Unused over the campaign to promote
the produced in Canada movement"
The Times contends that while Premier
Benefits tariff policy is in measure
retaliatory, we cannot criticize Canada
for adopting a plan that has worked
well in the United States" and con-
cludes that ''since the new tariff Sched-
ules impose higher rates on many ar
ticles that Canada does not produce at
home, there can be no pretense that the
tariff is intended wholly to foster home
industry"
The Toronto Daily Star. reviewing
the legislation on this side of the bor-
der, remarks that economists in this
country find that in locking imports
out of the United States the exports
are being locked in" and offers the
comment: "It is at this time, with
high tariffs falling into disrepute In the
United States and everywhere in the
world, that Canada joins with the
United States in policy that provokes
hostility and reprisals. The Hawley-
Smoot- Bennett policy is coming in for
worldwide condemnation, as causing
the ports Of the world to be choked with
idle ships and warehouses the world
over to be piled to the roof with un-
Salable products Of the field and the
factory. 1t does not take long when all
nations refuse to buy for all nations to
reach the point where they are unable
to sell. During the entire period when
the Mackenzie King administration was
in Office the Conservative Opposition
charged that all countries but Canada
were raising tariffs since the war. They
were all doing 1t. and the consequences
OF what they were doing have now
reached their full effect Canada, al
most alone in refraining from adopting
this disastrous course, has now done so.
and has done so just at the time when
all the countries are discovering how
disastrous their course was and how
necessary it Is to get back to the wise
plan OF encouraging world trade instead
OF blocking and preventing 1t at every
turn"
"Out Of the weller Of words" remarks
the Lynchburg News, zone fact stands
out. The new Canadian tariff rates
will injure business in this country, and
whether that was the intention in re-
taliation for our injury to Canadian
business, or whether the increases were
purely domestic In their purport, there
is nothing the United States can do
about 1t except to propose reciproctfx.s