Evening star., 1935-11-12
A Trade Armistice.

There was significant departure from
the traditional Armistice day theme at
Arlington when President Roosevelt
chose the occasion of his memorial
address at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier to announce "a definite agree
ment" between the United States and
Canada for reciprocal trade.
Thus the President seized graphic
opportunity to proclaim the gospel that
In these times when peoples everywhere
yearn to dedicate themselves exclusively
to the peaceful arts, the arena of COM
merce has its victories no less glorious,
and far more constructive, than those
to be won on the field of battle. Canada
and the United States have been in
more or less latent state of tariff war
for the past six years. RetaliationS and
reprisals, coincident with the ravageS of
depression, combined to cut once
enormous and mutually profitable trade
practically in half The two countries,
in the name of their "Century-Old neigh
borliness and genuine friendship have
now agreed upon an armiStice.
The reciprocal tariff treaty which is
to result is the prompt consequence of
Prime Minister Mackenzie Kings visit
to Washington. His conferences with
President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull
found this Government in receptive
mood for arrangements designed to re-
nounce the principle of economic ma
tionalism and heartily in favor of give
and-take arrangements with our friends
to the North. AS the newly elected head
of the Dominion government took Office
on pledge to negotiate reciprocal bar
gain, the Washington discussions were
assured smooth sailing from the start.
The details of mutual tariff conces-
sions present difficulties that may not
be Immediately or easily ironed out.
Canada seeks reduced American rates
on wide variety of her farm, forest,
mineral and fishery products. The
United States wants corresponding favorS
beneficial to our manufactures, notably
into the situation, but heart-to- heart
consideration of them has apparently
Surmounted major obstacles, for the
President declares unqualifedly that
another act cementing our historic
friendship has been agreed upon and
IS being consummated."
Thus, the American policy of economic
peace with all the nations is advanced
a new and substantial stage. Mr.. Roose-
velt looks upon the impending pact with
Canada as not only desirable in itself,
but vital from the standpoint of good
example" which he described as the
strongest force in the world" 1t is
fitting that Armistice day, 1885, should
be marked by such an achievement, for
the seventeenth anniversary of the end
ing of the World War falls in the midst
Of strife on both sides of the globe that
has its genesis primarily in economic
causes. Italy is bombing her way across
Ethiopia in order to widen the Fascist
place in the sun-to acquire territory
for colonizing purposes and sources for
raw material supplies. In Asia, Japan
8 pushes relentlessly her ambitions for an
expanded sphere of influence in China,
broadly for the same reasons, and is
suspected, out of similar motives, of
hankering for Siberian territory.
In light of aggressive developments
overseas it is peculiarly timely that the
neighboring democracies of North Amer
lea have found it possible to bury ancient
economic animoSites and covenant, in
spirit of good will and common inter-
est, to pursue the ways of peace for the
attainment of trade benefits. The Cana
dian American reciprocity agreement
sets up an important milestone along the
highway of international fraternity.