Evening star., 1932-02-05
EFFECT Of BRITISH
TARIFF IN !. s. WIDE
Three-Fourths of Trade In
VoIved-Treaty Alterations
Not Certain.
By the Associated Press.


effect of enacting protective tariffs in
Great Britain as the government pro-
poses TO do may be the scrapping OF
the most favored nation clause in COM
mercial treaties such as exist between
the United States and this country
observers believe.
Whether treaty alterations will be
necessary will depend largely on the
methods England takes to achieve one
of the most important obiectives OF
the new tariff program-that of low
ering foreign tariff barriers by offering
to reduce British tariffs.
Under the new program about three
fourths of Americas total trade with
Great Britain is affected by tariffs
In 1880 Anglo-AmeriCan trade totalec
approximately $775,000 900. About one
fourth of that total was represented
by meat. wheat and cotton, which arr
on the tariff free list.
While the new program definitely
makes Great Britain general tarlll
country. in recent years 1t has beer
"free trade" in name only as lar as
many imports were concerned.
Dutiable American Goods.
One-folrth of the imports from the
United States we're dutiable on high
scale even before the government S
tariff program was announced. These
Ievies we're under the MCKenna duties,
which have been in effect for decade
and which average about 33 l-3 per
cent on such imports as automCoieS
and accessories, clocks and musical IN
trrumentS. 49,
Also there are the abnormal I'M
mort duties of so per cent LEVIED a
lew months ago. All these existing
duties are not affected by the new III
per cent general tariff, ,.l
The highest existing tarln Whicn
affects the United States is on spirits,
which, levied on such articles as per-
fumes. amounts in some cases TO S3O
Gallon There also are heavy duties
on gasoline. tobacco, silk and motion
picture films
Conservative supporters of the tariff
bill said today they were highly pleased
with it.
Those interested in agriculture pointed
10 the proposed 10 per cent duty on
foreign -four. Should the -four come
in the form of wheat, which Is exempt
under the provisions Of the bill. they
pointed out that British millers would
be able to do the milling, while the
British farmers, who have complained
for several wears about the high price
of feed for their stock, would have a
large supply ava liable at cheap prices
In by-products of milling operations.
Last Years Imports.
Last wear between 8OO,OOOOOO and
900. 900 900 pounds of -four were i'm
ported 1t is estimated that 10 per
cent Of milled wheat is turned into
-four while the remaining 80 per cent
Is used to feed animals.
Morning papers forecast that iron
and steel manufactures. imported
foreign flour. oats and barley would be
among the articles appearing on the
schedule for the proposed new 10 pei
cent ad valorem duties under the gov
ernment's trade bill proposed in the
House Of Commons yesterday.
They predicted also that iron ore
would be exempt from the provisions Ct
the measure.
The United States. in common with
every other country exporting to Great
Britain, will be greatly affected By the
tariff proposals.
Two of Americas chief exports tc
Britain. wheat and raw Cott-n, are
exempted from the fat 10 per cent
which already pay duty under the
'McKenna" or other measures also Will
be immune.
All other American commodities i'm
ported into Britain. however. vii have
to pay the basic 10 per cent, failing
announcement of some further eXemp-
items 1t was assumed that some ot
them would come within the categOries
which the treasury, working in con-
junction with the Advisory Committee
will mark down for further tariffs.
Commons Session Historic.
In an historic session Of Commons
Great BritainS free trade policy, the
nations fiscal corner stone for cen
tury, was thrown overheard by Neville
Chamberlain, who wore the mantle Of
his famous father Joseph. as he pro-
claimed the financial revolution.
In its long history the House of Com
mons has rarely witnessed a scene
such as that which came when Cham
berlain made his tWo-hour speech.
Nearly the whole house rose and
cheered him several minutes. One
little island of so LabOriteS and a few
die-hard free trade Liberals remained
seated in a sea of cheering, waving
members Of Parliament.
London was blanketed in fog, and
the political ghosts Of generations past
Golden, Gladstone. DiSrael and JO-
Seph mberlaln-Seemed to hover
in the shadOwy recesseS Of the crowded
chamber. One of the elder Chamber
lain'S sons was carrying into effect his
fathers life ambition-tariffS linked
with imperial preferenCe-and thus did
Neville refer to his father, speaking
with obvious emotion:
Il believe he would have found. con-
ISOLATION in the bitterness of his dis
appointment that these proposals, the
climax of his own conception, should
be made before the House of Commons
which he loved in the presence of one
and by the lips of the other Of his two
immediate successors in name"
Interrupter Howled Down.
Only once was Chamberlain inter
rupted
Barely three months has passed
since the most remarkable election Of
our political history he began.
And the most corrupt" shouted a La
borite Government benches howled
the interrupter down and the chancel-
lor proceeded to develop the plan for
protection Of the pound sterling and
applying an effective brake on Britain S
unlimited imports.
Summarized, the objects of the Brit
ish government by tOday's declaration
were: First to correct the balance OF
trade by diminishing imports and stim-
ulating exports; second, to fortlfy
finances of the country by raising fresh
revenues by methods which would put
no undue burden on any section OF the
community; third, to effect an insur-
ance against the rise in the cost OF
living which might easily follow un-
checked a depreciation of British cur
rency: fourth, by system Of moderate
protection, scientifically adjusted to the
needs Of industry and agriculture, to
transfer to British factories and fields
work done elsewhere; fifth, to use this
policy for negotiations with foreign
countries; sixth, to fight discrimination
in foreign markets, and seventh, and
finally, to offer advantages to empire
countries.