TARIFFS AFTER THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1920, 28 December 1918, Page 2

TARIFFS AFTER THE WAR.

THE New York correspondent of the Daily Express writes: —“Reports are coming back to America from London that free-trade advocates are spreading a fable attributing resentment to the United States because of the possibility that Great Britain will adopt a protectorate tariff after the war. Nothing is further from the thoughts of Americans than a desire to interfere in the slightest degree with the fiscal systems of other countries. America will not be a free-trade nation after the war, and Americans will not put themselves in the ridi- ( ulous position of seeking to yitlm cnee fundamental tariff legislation in'other countries. That is not the American way. Of course, the Un \ ited States will throw its influence in favour of a joint policy by the leading Powers for the maintenance of peace; but Americans in the mass do not believe world peace would be furthered if the United States, in company with the rest of the world, were to become free-trade after the war. The demands of revenue alone will be sufficient to keep (he American tariff ‘at its present level at least. Instead of decreases in the schedules, it may well happen that certain rates will be raised when the annua. 1 budgets have to be made up in the coming years of peace. Apart from the revenue question, there is no indication at all that the mass of Americans arc lurning from protection as an economic policy lo welcome Cobdenism. American Labour wants no intervention of (lie protection it now enjoys. There is no question that (he Central Powers after the war would welcome a general policy of free trade on the part of the Allies as in the nature of a victory. Americans have no intention pf permitting German-made goods to flood their home markets. ' The only way to keep the German fuanufaelnrers out is by means (if a tariff', and it is absolutely certain that America will do Ibis, A free exchange of goods among Hie Allies after the war lias theoretical advantages, but it lias also disadvantages, which Americans do ind hesitate to point out.”