AMERICAN TARIFFS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 104, 2 April 1929, Page 8

AMERICAN TARIFFS

REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS. INDIGNATION IN CANADA. TALK OF REPRISALS. Not since Sir Wilfrid Laurier went down to defeat when the Canadian electorate rejected the Taft-Laurier reciprocity treaty has there been such a wave of anti-American feeling as is running through Canada just now (writes a Vancouver correspondent on March 6.) It commenced with the presidential campaign four months ago; it grew with the repeated promises of the Republican candidates for a higher tariff, especially in aid of the farmers of the Middle West; it reaches its peak just now, when American organisations are plncing their demands for higher protection before the ways and means committee' at Washington. Reprisals are already being openly discussed from the Maritimes to the Pacific.

A bill has been prepared, which will be known as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill, to be the first instrument of the Hoover Administration in giving effect to the nation-wide demand to build higher the tariff wall which America has erected against .the whole world. Sentiment in its favour, quite apart from individual interest, has grown from the pro-American interpretation the press of the United States has-been giving to the reaction in Great Britain and abroad to the cruiser programme. The opposition to a higher tariff is a negligible quantity AMERICA’S BEST CUSTOMER. Canada last year was America’s best customer. Although the Dominion Government has had repeated requests for tariff protection' against the dumping of cheap, surplus - production American commodities, particularly farm products, the authorities at Ottawa haye withheld action, as tariff tinkering disturbs the electorate more than any combination of administrative acts. But the period of diffidence is passing. Canada will fight to the utmost any attempt to disturb the fiscal status quo between her and her southern neighbour. Reprisals have been discussed for a month past. The project for deepening the channel of the St. Lawrence, at a cost of £30,000,000, a scheme in which America, particularly the Middle West, is vitally concerned, is the chief weapon with which Canada will be in a position to exact dollar for dollar for damage done her interests by the new United States tariff. American business men are being warned confidentially by their principals and agents in Canada and are getting alarmed. LOOKING TO THE EMPIRE. Movements are discussed with the object of looking to Great Britain and the Dominions for manufactured goods coming into Canada from the United States. Western Canada is in a ferment at the projected increase in tariff on lumber and cattle. Eastern Canada is incensed at the proposal to raise the duty to a point which amounts to an embargo on dairy products. The Prairies are unanimous in seeking retaliation against a promised 100 per cent, duty on farm products. Central Canada is angry at the proposed duty on gruin screenings used tor stock feed. These are the chief sources of irritation.

There are many more. The U nited States Radio Corporation has consistently turned down Canada’s claim for. a fair allotment of wave-lengths. There is a dispute, growing dally more intense, concerning America’s allegation of unfair treatment of United estates goods shipped through Canadian ports. A Washington delegation that came to Canada to ask that Canadian ships with liquor aboard be refused clearance was politely advised that Canada has done a good deal more in the past three years than United States toward malting Americans observe the Volstead Law. . . , . , Canadian citizens are genuinely aggrieved at United States Judges placing an embargo on rights they have enjoyed in, “commuting” across the border to their daily occupations. Any untoward act of Canada’s that might adversely affect a section of American interests raises a wail that is heard from sea to sea. The average Canadian, who is concerned chiefly with interests and events in his own province, is now taking a wider view of affairs and there is ample evidence of an unprecedented derire by the provinces to pull together to meet the new American fiscal invasion. The year. 1929 promises to go down in history like the year 1911, with its Taft-Laurier reciprocity treaty debacle.