Evening star., 1939-03-19
Britain and France Seek Aid
Of Russia to Defend Rumania;
y. S. Fights Reich With Tariffs
Duties Increased
Is Pct. on Munv
German Items
By the Associated Press.

~ WIG HSooCldIcu fIeSSs
On the heels of the State Depart
ment's strongly worded denuncia-
ton OF Germanys absorption Of
Czecho-Slovakia. the Treasury yes
terday ordered an extra Is per cent
tarif1 on many products the Reich
sends to this country.
A Treasury spokesman who an
nounced the action said it was taken
with the State Departments knowl-
edge. but refused comment on
whether 1t was related to Germany's
seizure of the Czech republic.
The action" he said, speaks for
ITSELF"
There seemed little doubt, how
ever. that this economic blow to
Germany could be interpreted in no
other light than as forceful ex-
preston of this country's extreme
displeasure at what Sumner Welles
acting Secretary of State, Friday
termed the "wanton lawlessness" of
the occupation Of Czecho-S -Slovakia.
It recalled, too, that President
Roosevelt said in his message to
Congress last January that there
were means short OF war, but
stronger and more effective than
mere words, of bringing home to
aggressor nations the aggregate sem
timents of our own people"
Countervailing Duties.
The Treasury ordered the extra
tariff by imposing countervailine
duties, effective April %. The Tar
i'll Act of 1880 provides that such
duties shall be levied-in addition
to regular tariffs-on any foreign
products subsidized, in manufacture
or export. by the government OF the
country of origin.
The Treasury acted after Attorney
General Murphy ruled that German
goods imported under barter ar
rangements should be subject to
extra duties.
Onicials said the Treasury could
not say at this time what goods
would be affected. 1t was said, how
ever. that "a substantial part" of i'm
ports from Germany would feel the
extra duty. The principal imports
have been chemicals, toys, medicine,
paper and china.
Imports from Germany declined
In 1888 to $64 ,537 900. compared with
$o2 ,468 900 the previous year.
Private trade experts estimated
that At least $50 900 900 Of the 1888
trade was carried on by barter.
United States exports to Germany
totaled SLOT ,588, 600 in 1898. Cotton
and other products which Germany
cannot readily obtain elsewhere
have constituted the bulk of Reich
imports from this country.
Say U. s. Approved System.
German Embassy officials, when
asked for comment on the Treas
ury's action, said the existing sys-
tenn OF trade between Germany and
the United States was approved by
the Treasury over two years ago and
had functioned since then without
change Of price or procedure on the
German side.
They added that the Treasury
approved the method on December
%, 1896, after officials agreed that
33Es per cent over the world mar
ket price for cotton was a fair and
open market price in Germany.
An Embassy spokesman recalled
that considerable negotiations pre-
ceded that agreement and said that
since that time other negotiations
had been conducted looking toward
expansion Of the system.
I'm the German view" he added
the inference left by this was
that the system had been fully
acceptable to the United States
until today's unexpected announce
ment."
The Treasury also ruled yester-
day that goods produced in Ru-
thenia (Carpatho- Ukraine) should
(See TARIFFS. PAGE A-130