pples and Tariff

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The bakers in Lilliland often asked the Baron to confront the other bakers using apples purchased from another country and yet advertised that their apple strudel was the official Lilliland apple strudel.

The Baron asked his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, to review the request. The Professor was quick to point out to the Baron that the sugar used in the strudel was not raised in Lilliland, nor was most of the flour grown in Lilliland.

The Professor also reminded the Baron that since Lilliland was a neutral country in military, diplomatic, and business matters that this situation might lead to a change in attitude, if not handled carefully.

The Baron made his decision and decided against the protective tariff on apples not grown in Lilliland. With the increased growth of Lilliland as a popular vacation destination, he wanted to maintain the best of relationships with other countries.

Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, the Baron’s fiancée, also said that the Baron’s decision was good for the future of Lilliland. If we imposed a tariff, then the other country could also impose a tariff on something they imported from Lilliland, and so on. The problem would only escalate and get out of control.

A short time after the decision was made, the farmers announced an extra large harvest of apples and the whole question was actually unnecessary in the first place.

If the question ever came up again, the Baron, the Professor, and Lady Angela would surely remember how it was solved before it became a serious matter.

This was a good example of how the Baron cared for the people of Lilliland by using common sense solutions for the present and the future.