Evening star., 1935-11-18
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By G.. Could Lincoln.

has won many concessions. Whlle IL
has, of course, made concessions to Can
ada, they are not such as to wreck
American agriculture or industry. II
there are inequalities, they may be
ironed out later. The agreement might
have been far more drastic. 1t might,
indeed, have gone as far as the recipro-
cal trade agreement between the two
countries in the days of the late PreSi-
dent Taft, an agreement which was
written into law by the American Con-
gresS, but which the Canadian govern
ment never ratified. So it never became
effective. That agreement covered a
long list of important products which
were to be admitted free of duty from
Canada into the United States, and vice
versa. In the list were wheat, rye, OATS
barley, buckwheat, hay. straw. fresh vege-
tables cattle less than year old, cat
tie valued at not more than $14 head,
horses and mules valued at over $3.50 a
head, or less than that sum, swine,
poultry, fish of many kinds, including
cod and haddock. What row such an
agreement would have brought today.
1t is to be expected that there will be
criticism from agricultural leaders and
from some of the induStrialiStS, now
that the agreement has made its bow.
The administration has endeavored, in
its general statement about the agree
ment, to set up substantial reasons why
the American farmer should not be
irate over the agreement. One OF these
is that the concessions made by Canada
to American manufactured products
are great and will undoubtedly result
in very substantial increases in sales OF
American goods in the Dominion. This
will make more work in America and
increase the purchasing power OF the
workers, who in turn will purchase more
of the products of the American farmers.
Another is that the amounts of farm
products admitted to this country under
lower duties from Canada have been
specifically limited, as in the cases OF
cattle, calves and cream, to a point
which cannot interfere materially with
the American producer in the American
market.
The Canadian agreement it is the hope
of the President will double or triple
American commerce with Canada. This
commerce dropped off enormously since
1929. Canadian imports into the United
States fell from $500 900 900 in 1929 to
1892 100000 in 1884, and the exports from
the United States TO Canada fell from
S899 900 600 to 1902 900 ,0OO 1t is undoubt-
edly true that this commerce would have
dwindled if there had been no other
reason than the depression. But the
raInntipr of tho hos hppn
enhanced by the trade barriers erected
on each side of the border. 1t has been
the dream of Secretary Cordell Hull
to bring about lowering of international
trade barriers, ever since he became head
of the State Department. 1t is his belief
that one way out of the depression is to
revitaliZe international trade. Increased
foreign trade means more production,
rather than restriction. The Canadian
reciprocity agreement is the biggest step
which Mr. Hull has been able to take
along this line. For Canada is and has
been the second largest customer of the
United States, and the United States
has been the second largest customer of
Canada.
of the farmers of the country, particu-
larly the Western farmers, when he
sought to put through his reciprocity
agreement with Canada. Yet he was able
in 1911 to bring about the enactment of
a law by Congress to make the agree
ment effective. He sent a message to
Congress on January 26. 1911, urging the
adoption OF the reciprocal trade arrange
L,oI Lv,
the representatives of the two govern
ments. Six months later to day, he
signed the reciprocity bill and made it
a law. No one can say what benefits
might have accrued had Canada gone
through with the matter. But that
country failed to do so.
President Taft, in his message to the
House and Senate, advocating reciprocity
with Canada said number of things
that are as pertinent, or even more peril
nent, today than they were "a years ago.
Mr.. Taft said: This trade agreement,
if entered into will cement the friendly
relations with the Dominion which have
resulted from the satisfactory settlement
of the controversies that have lasted for
a century, and further promote good
feeling between kindred peoples. 1t
will extend the market for numerous
products of the United States among the
inhabitants of a prosperous neighboring
country with an increasing population
and an increasing purchasing power. '''
The geographical proximity, the closer
relation of blood, common sympathies
and identical social ideas furnish very
real and striking reasons why this agree
ment ought to be viewed from high
plane. feel I have correctly
interpreted the wish of the American
people by expressing in the agreement
now submitted to Congress for its ap-
proval, their desire for a more intimate
and cordial relationship with Canada"
When Taft was making his plea for
reciprocity with Canada the entire for
eign trade of Canada was $685., 900 900.
The imports were $376,O00,0OO. OF this
amount the United States contributed
more than 1928 100000. 1t was the hope
of Mr.. Taft that the adoption of the
reciprocity agreement would bring to this
country an even larger share OF the
Canadian market.
In those days a President OF the
United States did not have the power to
negotiate and put into effect reciprocal
trade agreements with foreign nations.
He had to go to Congress for ratif1ca-
ton. Congress has given President
Roosevelt authority to deal finally with