Evening star., 1932-08-31
Americans Await Results
OF Conference at Ottawa

Agreements reached at Ottawa by
delegates from the several units of the
British Empire are critically studied in
this country. Dealing with tariff ques-
tions and reciprocal arrangements with
the empire, they are believed by some
Americans to be likely to affect trade
with the United States and other coun-
tries. This effect is minimized by some
observers, and it Is pointed out that
the pacts must be approved by the
British dominions.
Emphasis is placed by the Indian
apolis News on the limited scope of
the treaties" as showing the realities
that pressed at Ottawa" but that paper
feels that "the persistence that marked
the negotiations shows a firm resolve
10 draw the parts of the empire closer
in merchandising" The News adds:
American wheat exports are likely to
be hampered considerably, and the
Canadian concession on factory items
will interfere somewhat with American
sales in the dominions." 1t Is further
advised: 1T Is not too soon to con-
movement, especially If it later should
grow, in its relation to the structure of
international trade"
toona Mirror, that Canadians will
undergo change Of heart ere the bar
rier becomes a wall between neighbor-
ing nations, to the disadvantage of
both" The Mirror suggests: with
these dominions In all zones, and with
the natural resources Of the world on
which to draw. they possibly feel that
the empire Is law unto itself, a nation
for itself, and with no need for the bal
ance of the world"
Those units which make It impos-
sible for the sun to set on the Union
Jack" comments the Fort Worth Star
Telegram, ARE privileged to supply
England with everything its market can
absorb. and they will be super-privi-
legged to the extent that there will be no
competition" The Star Telegram adds:
Everything is covered except cotton:
which should be all that is needed to
awaken the American cotton belt from
long and dense state of coma" The
Buffalo Evening News offers the COM
ment: THE triumph of the empire
spirit which marked the conclusion of
the conference was all the more sig
nificant because it was achieved only
after discussions which were carried to
an unusual stage Of frankness and Bit
terness - Even at the approaching
world conference in London, the Brit
ish will be in very different frame
OF mind from what they would have
reached If the quarrels and agreements
at the Ottawa conference had not oc-
Cured"
Speaking from the Canadian side, the
Ottawa Journal gives an illuminating
statement Of its attitude: There is no
planned or deliberate attempt on Can
ada's part to injure the United States
trade; such policy would be extremely
foolish. What does exist however, Is
a conviction that the United States
market cannot be depended upon, that
the United States does not wish to trade
with Canada. and that. consequently,
1t is up to Canada to seek markets else
where. Putting the matter another way,
Canadas position Is simply that she
has to have markets, and that If she
cannot find them In the United States,
then her task must be to find them
somewhere else, preferably in the Brit
ish Empire. It is not question OF being
anti-American; 1t is q question Of being
Canadian. Selling 984 mil
lions worth of its goods to the empire
and buying therefrom only 591 millions,
the United States had o favorable trade
balance with the emp1O of nearly 400
millions"
1.-THE benefits of trade between the
DominionS and the United Kingdom
which the work of the conference seems
likely to bring about is propably as
much as the most optimistic had any
reason to expect" thinks the Port HUI
ron Times Herald, while the San An
tonic Express holds that "the conven-
tions should promote commercial ac-
tivities among the countries acknowl-
edging King George v as their common
sovereign, and, indirectly, improve bus
iness conditions in many other parts Of
the world" Observing that leach sig
natory pledges itself to prohibit the
entry of goo3 from any foreign state,
IL the Shipnents be intended To deuresS