Page:The New Protectionism.djvu/15

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PREFACE
xi

nence given by war pressure to what is in its ultimate significance a sharp business enterprise. The Paris Conference, for example — a copy of the Report of which is here given as an appendix — focuses attention upon the Alliance as an economic system for the conduct of the war, and for defensive work afterwards. With the economic war policy itself I am not concerned to deal. But the measures proposed for common action during the period of reconstruction, and the permanent measures of mutual assistance and collaboration, raise issues of great moment for those who regard Free Trade as economically sound, and consider a policy aiming at a lasting severance between the present belligerent groups as a menace to the future peace of the world. Although the document nowhere explicitly commits this country to any tariff or other definitely Protectionist act, it lays down a line of policy which involves Protection. The very language of its preamble is replete with Protectionist assumptions. Our

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