THE UNITED STATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 42

THE UNITED STATES.

PANAMA CANAL. NEW YORK, January 16. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that it is understood that Mr W. G. Harding (the President), in order to carry out his campaign pledge to exempt American coastwise trade from the Panama Canal Yolls, wiii open negotiations with England. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty which was negotiated between Britain and the Unite i States forbids such exemption. It is recalled that President Wilson caused tha repeal of the exemption law once jwissei on the ground that it would seriously affect Anglo-American relations. It is now believed that Britain will probaoly agree to the exemption. PLEA FOR PROTECTION. WASHINGTON, January 22. Mr Charles Bently, representative of the National Canners’ Association of the United States, appeared before the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee and urged that the President be authorised to alter the tariff schedule to prevent the importation of low-cost articles. Mr Bently pointed out that the President now has partial powers of this character, bub he wished this power extended so that it could be used at any time in a commercial emergency in which the American market might be flooded by foreign competition. Mr Bently declared that Australian jam had been pouring into the United States at low prices, due to the fact that Australia had fixed the price of sugar during the war at 5,)- cents, thus being able to produce an article much below American costs. AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE. WASHINGTON, January 21. Admiral Benson, head of the Shipping Board, has ordered an investigation of Senator Jones’s sensational charges, made before the National Merchant Marine Association, that the International Mercantile Marine, which is an American corporation leasing 40 vessels from the Shipping Board, made an agreement in 1903 with the British Admiralty not to pursue a policy that would he injurious to the interests of the British mercantile marine or British trade. The agreement, it is stated, terminates two years hence. Mr Franklin, president of the International Mercantile Marine, denies Senator Jones’s charges. PRESIDENT WILSON DISAPPOINTED. WASHINGTON, January 18. It is understood that President Wilson is somewhat surprised at the apparently lessened interest of the Allies in Armenia following on mediation with the Bolshevists, which is here regarded as not having been in the best interests of either the Armenians or of the Allies. The failure of the Allies to respond to Mr Wilson’s requests for advice and assurances also occasioned disappointment, and the feeling has grown here that the Allies have become indifferent concerning any efforts the President might make to save Armenia. It has been intimated that the Allies would be willing to sacrifice Armenia in order to arrive at an acceptable arrangement with the Turkish Nationalists. GENERAL ITEMS. Mr J. lit. Howard (president of the American Farm Bureau Federation) estimates that out of 6.000,000 farmers in tha United States 1,500,000 are bankrupt, owing to the decline in prices. January 22. Mr Herbert Hoover (late Food Controller) has announced his acceptance of the farmers’ offer of 15,000,000 bushels of com for European relief, and 1.000.000 dollars contribution from Mr John D. Rockefeller, jun.’s, private fortune WASHINGTON, January 21. The United States foreign trade in 1920 was the largest ever recorded. It w&s three times more than before the war. in 1913. The exports last 'vear totalled 8.228.000 .OOOdol, and the imports 5,279,C00.000d01.