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Show A Farm Plan Across the Sea By HARLEY L. LLTZ 7 Professor of Public Finance, Princeton University (Special Correspondence) LONDON, England As soon as the American visitor in England begins to read the English newspapers he learns that the English have an agri- t ft cultural problem, prob-lem, and he immediately im-mediately feels at home. The only difference is that the English En-glish problem is stated as the exact reverse of our own. In the United States, we are troubled by production, and the major contribution of our agricultural statesmen has been the ingenious inge-nious ways de- the effects 'of such a policy on the standard of living of all other British citizens. In fact, an agricultural tariff would enforce a serious burden upon the entire industrial and urban population. pop-ulation. If we put together the English and the American situations, the two policies pol-icies of agricultural aid are equally stupid. But tf we seek a solution for both nations the answer is obvious. The American farmer needs a larger market, while England needs mor foodstuffs. If our farmers had freer access to 40,000.000 more consumers, the need for AAA, for processing; taxes, and for governmental regimentation regimen-tation of agriculture would disappear. Of course, England could pay for her purchases of our farm producU only by sending us some of her own goods in exchange. This would do us no harm in the end. A strong revival of our agriculture would absorb some of the unemployed. It would also create cre-ate a greater demand for our own manufacturers, and there is no clear evidence to prove that the volume of domestic manufacturing would be adversely ad-versely affected by accepting English goods in payment for our surplus farm products. Indeed, there Is more reason for thinking that this elimination elimina-tion of the taxes which business now pays to support both agriculture nnd the unemployed, would leave American Ameri-can manufacturing in a better position posi-tion than it now enjoys in Its fully protected home market. Under the circumstances, the Initiative Initi-ative towards a solution of this Joint problem could be taken by either country, It would be good business and good political strategy for us to make tha first move. Continued inaction inac-tion will only stimulate greater efTurt to make the Empire self-sustaining. Once this has occurred, the chance of the American farmers at this large and strong English market will be lost completely. Already our mistake have cost the farmer and the taxpayer taxpay-er heavily, but it may not bt too Ibisj to rugaiq this lost ground. vised to reduce output while paying the farmers more for producing less. In England the complaint is that production pro-duction is declining, and support is being drummed up for some policy that will stimulate a larger total crop. The pro-farm group of politicians are playing up the importance of agricultural agri-cultural capacity for defense purposes. pur-poses. It is true that if the land were to be absolutely neglected, a sudden, natural increase of production could not be obtained In case of a blockade. But England's defense rests also on munitions, for supplying which the sea lanes must be kept open. If this is done, food as well as munition materials mate-rials can be imported. Beyond doubt, the countr:' can produce pro-duce more foodstuffs than at present. The real issue is the price that it is proper to pay for the increase. The preferred plan to induce the desired result is a higher tariff. The political friends of the English farmer would keep out the bacon from Denmark, the wheat from America, and the beef from Argentine until ri&wg prices would call forth greater home productions pro-ductions of these articles. J'o one teems to have considered |