The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1932. AFFECTING AMERICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1932. AFFECTING AMERICA.

“With tire conference at Ottawa in full awing, the importance placed thereon by othc-r countries, outside tile? pale of the Empire, can be guagea'-%y the large .amount of - pubLicity given to the discussions, and the amount of comment bring published in Amer.oan papers. What Elmpire markets me..u to American trade has been brought home by the prospect of an Imperial policy that may rjstriet toe marketing of American goods if not permanently, at any rate until a reciprocal agreement is reached involving mutual concessions. Since the war the United States has raised her tariff .barriers to the highest level ever recorded, and in 1930, during the debate on the Haw’.ey-Smoot ■' Bril, thirty foreign nations protested, some giving warning . that retaliatory tariffs would follow the passing of the measure. The protests were disregarded and certain nations made good then’ threats by building up than own tariff walls, America has now come to realise that, with her own pqrw practically closed to the trade of the wpi'id it is impossible to gain new markets or, to retain old ones while the nations are debarred from 'buying because they fare not permitted to pay in , their own> trad'e products. But bad as the position now is, there arc fears in the United 'States that it may develop into something far'more Serious. The 'abandonment of Free Trade by Britain,.and the adoption of protective tariffs which is interpreted its being a weapon to be used in bargaining with other nations, are adding to the deep concern felt in America with regard to her diminishing,jjfca-eign trade and the possibility of agreement among a number of the nations' that will restrict it stiff further. ' The danger seen ip a possible movement T. Great Britain to create a vast world area of low-tariff countries, able to trade among themselves with comparative freedom, has become more real to the United States which is recognising that a successful outcome of the present negotiations among the delegates now assembled must,- haw at 1 ast' to some extent, the effect of preventing any- increase in her outward trade' operations.