Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-05-13

modern world, economic nationalism
is inevitable and irresistible. and that
Great Britain must adjust itself to
the fact, whether it likes it or not.
Being a man of extraordinary vigor
OF mind and copiousness Of speech,
he has imposed his will on his COL
leagues, most Of whom, being Con-
servatives, were not unwilling to in
dorse a policy which chimed in with
their protectionist sympathies.
But his protectionism is not the
simple tariff barrier to imports. He
is essentially a Fabian Socialist who
aims at the governmental organiza-
ton of industry as severely as 1t is
organized in the Soviet or Fascist
state. His weapon is quotas" and
his method is planning and control.
Under him the whole farming COM
munity is being brought under the
discipline and restrictions of boards
for this, that and the other-pig
boards. milk boards, potato boards,
hops boards and so on.
To encourage the uneconomic pro-
duction of wheat in the country.
there are subsidies for the wheat
grower. Also for the oats grower.
Mr.. Elliot admits that all this will
punish the consumer and the tax
payer, but that cannot be helped.
British agriculture must be saved and
food control is. the way to save it.
He even contemplates the control"
Is the way to save it. He even con-
templates the control of the dis
tributive trades.
But the revolution Mr.. Elliot Is
engineering does not promise well. 1t
is raising a tide of resentment among
the consuming public, as the recent
by-elections show. It penalties as
many farmers as it benefits. And the
results are often the reverse of what
was expected.
Take the case of bacon. Supplies
from Denmark were cut down ruth
lessly by quota. Who got the benefit?
Not the consumer, for up went the
price of bacon. Not the British pro-
Queer, for British bacon only rose in
price per cent. The real beneficiary
is the Danish farmer! He exports
less to us: but he gets 80 per cent
higher price. The fantastic conclu-
sion of the whole business Is that the
Danish exporter Is getting more money
for less bacon, while the price OF
British bacon Is practically unchanged
and the British consumer Is paying
nearly half as much again for his
breakfast rasher.
And this Is not all. Trouble Is brew
ing in the British commonwealth as
the result of Mr.. Elliot's agricultural
quota policy. The British dairy
farmer is being knocked out by glut
of imported butter, cheese, etc. The
source Of the glut is New Zealand and
Australia Mr.. Elliot wants to cut
down this supply Of cheap food, but
the Ottawa agreements, which have
still some time to run, stand in his
way. He cannot apply either tar1ns
or quotas, and is reduced to the nee
essity of appealing to the New 1ea-
landers and Australians kindly 10
limit their exports to this country,
Meanwhile the New Zealanders,
anxious about their future in a mar
ket which takes 90 per cent OF their
exports, have proposed q new deal.
They will admit British manufacturers
more freely If Great Britain will ad-
NIT their dairy products more freely
But the British reply, If not fiat
no." is something very like it. and
q disagreeable situation is arising In
the relations of the mother country
and the dominions.
Altogether the experience OF the
new tariff-quota policy of the govern
ment is anything but promising, and
the question is being asked how long
the same cabinet can hold minister
of agriculture determined to limit i'm
ports and q president of the Board OF
J Trade intent on reviving our anguish
ing export and shipping industries.
(Copyright, 1034.l