Evening star., 1935-11-15
Treaty

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drastic tariff reduction on almost all
Canadian agricultural products such
as milk, cream, butter, cheese and
cattle on hoof. According to reliable
information, 250,000 head Of cattle
will be allowed annually to enter this
country. Canadian wheat and fum-
ber will benefit, too.
The Canadians have agreed to re-
duce the existing rates on American
motor cars, trucks and many other
industrial products which heretofore
had to pay prohibitive rate.
Phe advantages given the Canadian
!. farmers, to the detriment Of the
. Middle West. will be offset by the
!. substantial gains which American
manufacturers will make.
Z The reciprocal tariff agreement fol-
e lows substantially the lines OF the 1911
treaty which met with the approval
Of President Taft, but failed of rati-
fcation
President Peers Into Future.
The economic importance OF the
new Characterization trade treaty
is overshadowed by its poltica
significance.
President Roosevelt has followed
Z closely the developments in Europe
8 and the Far East, and has come to
: the conclusion nothing short Of a
miracle could improve the existing
situation on the two continents. De-
srite his desire to look at the world
through -colored spectacles, he is
compelled to admit that for several
years there will be nothing but wars,
internal troubles and an inevitable
increased economic depression both in
Europe and in Asia.
MI. Roosevelt's basic idea in inter-
national affairs is that while America
must continue a good neighbor policy
with all nations, its chief concern is
to strengthen its ties with the nations
of the Western Hemisphere In order to
minimize the effects produced by the
chaotic situation in Europe and in
Asia.
Now Near Realization.
The pan-American idea-an inti-
mate political cooperation between
North and South Ar1erica-appears
today more close to realization than
ever before. But since a political un-
derstanding can be of no avail with
out close economic ties, it is important
that some of the regional interests Of
the American producers should be
overlooked for the sake Of q greater
cooperation between the nations of
both American continents.
Such a policy of freer economic in
tercourse between the North and the
South would act as a shock absorber
against the bumps this continent will
get in the event the situation on the
other continents becomes hopelessly
tangled.
These premises have been put forth
clearly to Premier King by President
Roosevelt during the long hours of
talk at the White House.
The Canadian premier always has
been strong advocate Of closer ties
with this country. but until now has
lacked an opportunity to translate
them into facts.
Similar Treaties Possible.
e The American Canadian treaty
opens possibility of concluding SIM
liar treaties with other nations of both
, American continents
The next agreement Is expected to
be with the Republic of Argentina.
:, In May, 1888, an Argentine delega-
tion came to the United States to dis
cuss a reciprocal trade agreement.
The Argentine government was willing
to open wide its door to the Amer
lean manufactured products in ex-
change for a tariff reduction on Ar
gentine beef, flaxseed, apples and
grapes.
:. Because of the pressure brought on
the administration by the interested
sections from the Middle West, the
negotiations were stalemated.
The Argentine government pointed
out that its exports of agricultural
products were non-competitive. The
fax seed would not compete with the
Minnesota and North Dakota product
because it would be sent to New
York, Philadelpfia and Baltimore
which buy it from the Argentine in
any case because the transportation
cost by sea is lower than by rail. The
Argeutine grapes do not compete with
the American grapes because they
reach this country at q time when our
grapes are out of season. This ap-
plies to other agricultural products.
State Department experts are only
amateurs in nation-l politics. They
are worried for. fear they may make
a mistake which might aliena.c many
votes at the next presidential election.
For this reason they have postponed
the conversations with the Argentine
government.