14 MARCH 1931, Page 45

Everyone knows that Europe has more and higher tariffs since

the War, and it is pretty well agreed that these tariffs are hindering trade recovery. Dr. Wilhelm Grotkopp, the German financial journalist, maintains in Breaking Down the Tariff Walls (Benn, 6s.) that the European countries— excluding those in Eastern Europe—should enter into a Customs Union and thus form a Free Trade zone comparable to that of America behind its tariff. He takes a hopeful view of the somewhat modest results achieved at the Economic Conference at Geneva and insists that the Western countries must continue the work there begun, with France and Germany leading the way. The author's preliminary account of modem tariff policies is useful, and his proposals are at least definite.