Woodrow Wilson: “I think nothing would be more deplorable than that.”

We have been vigorously building up a great merchant marine and providing for improvement of marketing in foreign countries by the passage of an export trade law.

Clearly, this is no time for the erection here of high trade barriers.

Such a policy is antagonistic to the fundamental principle of equal and exact justice to all.

A recommendation at this time that suitable legislative action should be taken may appear somewhat premature, but in view of the approaching termination of my administration I have brought this matter to your attention, hoping that…