AMERICAN TARIFF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 7

AMERICAN TARIFF.

CONTEMPLATED REVISION. AUSTRALIA’S ATTITUDE. (Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, April 8. Sir Esme Howard, the British Ambassador, this afternoon presented a memorandum to >the State Department outlining Australia’s attitude toward the contemplated revision of the American tariff. The document, which consists approximately of 900 words, is accompanied by the necessary statistical matter, was prepared by Mr D. McK. Dow, official secretary for Australia in New York, in conjunction with Sir John Broderick, of the British Embassy, and according to the former is in no sense to be construed as a “protest.” Rather is it “friendly.” Argentina, Canada, and France have been among the nations which have opened conversations with the American Government on the tariff question. The feeling in France is so strong that a reprisal aspect enters as a serious complication. It is understood that Australia’s attitude is rather different, taking the point of view that the American Government by co-operation can avoid the inevitable difficulties arising from virtually embargo rates upon important commodities exported by the Commonwealth, such as have been asked for by important interests in the United States during recent sittings of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives. Such rates have the inevitable consequence of embarrassing American exporters of important manufactured commodities, due to the inevitable disturbance of trade arising from shutting off the American market for primary goods from customer nations. The exposition of Australia’s position is in the light of the much mooted intent during the coming session of Congress to revise the upward rates of such commodities as meat, wheat, fruit, hardwood timbers, etc. It is understood that the memorandum follows general lines indicated by Canberra, although the text of the document was drawn up here and at New \ 7 ork. It is further indicated that until the mutual consent of the State Department and Canberra is obtained the text will rot be published here, although it may be cabled to Australia for release there.