Tariff Deadlock

Another phase was reached in the tariff deadlock between France and the U. S. (TIME, Sept. 19 et seq.) when the French government last week answered the U. S. protest against the new French tariff schedule, which Washington holds discriminates against U. S. goods.

Briefly, the note reaffirmed France's right to make only such trade agreements as she sees fit and flatly rejected the U. S. demand for most-favored-nation treatment without corresponding favors in the U. S. for French goods.

The French contention is that there is a conflect of material interests, which they are prepared to discuss on the basis of mutual concessions for mutual profit. But that is as far as they are willing to go.

It was denied that France in any way wishes to associate herself with any movement designed to defend the economic interests of Europe against the U. S. But the Independance Beige, Brussels newspaper, declared that Germany considers U. S. opposition to reciprocal trade treaties "audacious and unjustified," while Britain backs France, as do other powers, who are subjected to the U. S. tariff and "its manifold surprises."