The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-11-28

tTdflty-Dut not 10 dement, Dy It's TIC
rather paradoxical attitude in the Unit
ed States Department of Commerce.
This applies not only to trade with
Italy trade with Ethiopia was never
important-but to trade In other parts
of the world. The thought, apparent
ly. is not to take too much advantage
of Italy's occupation with her war by
sneaking away a part of her interna-
tional trade!
The whole thing seems rather neb-
ulous, though also very high-minded.
But apparently 1t does not apply TO
South America. Perhaps because
Washington has always regarded
southern American trade IS belonging
to this country-not by divine right.
nor even by geography, but perhaps
because of some expected gratitude for
the Monroe Doctrine. Though as a
matter Of fact that doctrine has been
resented rather than appreciated by
our LatIn-American friends for many
years now. In fact, 1t began to cool
shortly after Washington forced
France to withdraw its support from
Macmillan, not long after the Amer
lean Civil war.
SO the best minds interested In fur
therIng our international trade began
several weeks ago to think about the
possibilities in South America, now
that Italy is very busy In Africa. In
fact. 1t was decided to have new
head Of the bureau of foreign and do
nestle commerce, and that this new
head should be some one capable OF
taking advantage Of this golden oppor
tunity In South America.
AS this is written the name OF this
new "sales manager" for Uncle Sam
has not been announced, but 1t has al
ready been discovered by our consuls
from Panama down to Cape Horn that
Great Britain apparently had the same
Idea. Whether 1t occurred to the best
minds In Downing street before our
Brain Trusters thought of 1t, or
whether. having thought of it, the
British merely went into action with
out waiting for lot of conferences
and on the selection Of suitable per-
son to direct it, Is not only not dis
Is sadly admitted, In whispers, that
the British beat us to 1t. And the
comment Is sadly added-"as usual"
Not Cricket"
1t Is rather interesting that the off
cial who disclosed this situation to the
writer, In discussing what he thought
this country ought to do In observing
the amenities, long before he men
toned the British, said that to expand
our trade all over the world at the ex-
pense of the italian international
trade would not be cricket" Which
happens to be distinctly British ex-
preston, though widely used here.
just why 1t would not be cricket
to take advantage OF Italy's preoccupa-
tion In some parts of the world, and
not In others, Is not clear. In the De
partment Of Commerce there Is a GER
tain theory about 1t. This is to the
general effect that Latin-American
trade belongs naturally to the United
States, and that therefore anything we
can do to cement 1t Is justifiable at all
times, whether the nations from which
we take 1T are engaged in war or
not. and whether we approve of that
war or not.
1t may be that In London the ex-
porters and the government figure the
same way, on the theory that on ac-
count Of Sir Francis Drake, or maybe
Sir Henry Morgan, Latin-American
trade naturally belongs to Britain, and
hence any means of taking 1t away
from some other nation Is justified
There Is widespread suspicion,
however, that Cricket" does not inter-
fere with Britaln's communicating all
of Italy's foreign trade that she can
get her hands on. Even during the
World war, some State department I'M
derIlngs recall; business us usual
which mems get all you canvas
quite a motto In the tight little Island.
Canadian Treaty
On the whole the administration e&-
poets to benefit enormously, at HE next
election, by the effects OF the Canadian
reciprocity treaty. Its political raml-
iications are legion, but, now that time
has been allowed for estimating its
economic consequences, let's take a
look at the political aspects, which
were very much In mind at the White
House, II not at the State department,
while the problems we're being
weighed.
The worst liability to the. admins
tratIon is the dairy section, which will
let much larger volume OF Canadian
milk, cream. butter and cheese into
this country, and hence will irritate
the dry farmers Of New England,
New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota,
particularly. and all other dairy farm
ers In general.
incidentally 1t was rather odd that
there was such rush to sign the
treaty that the ceremonies almost
synchronized with those attendant
upon the delivery at the White House