[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your correspondent Mr. Gilbert
Beard advances the argument that shipments _from the U.S.A. to Great Britain are paid for by shipments of " tea, tin, rubber, &c., from India, Malaya, and China, which are in turn paid for by large shipthents from England." _
Will he explain what economic compulsion there is on these countries to buy our goods in preference to American ? My own observations on the spot have rather been that we have to fight for our share of the trade in the face of severe American and other competition. The East and the U.S.A. can and do exchange their goods and could and would continue to do so irrespective of the existence of a preponderance of U.S.A. exports to Great Britain..
There is another aspect of the case which needs stating. The existence of our large body of unemployed is a factor which vitiates many a pretty Free Trade theory. The nation is like a father, possessed of an uncultivated plot of ground, several grown sons out of work, and a large bill from the greengrocer each week for vegetables supplied.
(a) It would be a direct economy in the family budget if the sons. raised the vegetables even though the greengrocer could provide better stuff at a dirt cheap price. (b) When experience has been gained there is no reason why they should not be able to produce vegetables for market in corn.. petition with anyone. (c) The gain in morale in working instead of idling is inestimable.—I am, Sir, &c., &ram.
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