The United States and Tariffs The Daily Mail last Saturday
was in great glee because French intransigence in regard to a tariff on motor cars and motor parts had induced the American tariff-mongers in Congress to yield up the scalps which they were expect- ing from a 800 per cent. duty on lace. The 90 per cent. ad valorem duty was in fact restored. Why such methods of economic war should be recommended to Mr. Snowden we cannot imagine. We have no doubt, however, that the United States Ambassador in Paris, Mr. Walter Edge, has been instructed by the lecon de choses of the lace- makers' demonstration at Calais. It has been suggested ironically in America that President Hoover might do well to appoint a few more Senators to foreign embassies to improve their 'education, Now that Americans are becoming aware of the narrow margin separating pros- perity from hard times, and alsobecoming dimly conscious that that margin is in fact the 10 per cent. represented by the country's export trade, the high Protectionists are beginning to look silly. Nevertheless, both Houses of Congress have passed the Tariff Bill which heightens the wall considerably.
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