Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-19
ECONOM|CP FARLEY
PLANS ARE PUSHED
American Delegates Soon to
Be Named to Geneva
Meeting May d.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

The plans Tor American pdFliCipa-
ton in the international economic
conference. which convenes at Geneva
May 4, under the auspices of the
League of Nations, are now we'll ad-
vanced. The State and the Com.
merCe Departments have been collab-
Grating on the details, and official an.
nouncement Of the personnel of the
United States delegation will be forth
coming within few days.
The economic conference has been
completely oVershadowed on this side
of the water by discussion of arms
conference plans. 1t has been in the
making for the past IS months. and
has engaged the serious attention OF
the Council of the League. which
takes the position that economic
peace should go hand in hand with
political peace and disarmament. The
League regards the economic confer
ence as almost. If not quite, the twin
brother of the Leagues prospective
arms conference. In this country.
however, the matter has attracted
scant notice, Notwithstanding the fact
that the question Of tariff walls, the
question Of agricultural SURPRISES and
matters of international finance
prime concerns of the United States
are to be up for discussion.
Passed Without Debate.
The conference date was set and
the agenda announced at Geneva last
November. The invitation to the
United States to participate reached
the state Department in December,
and last month Mr.. Coolidge sent to
Congress special message on the
subject. In this message he declared
that he regarded it as of the highest
importance for the United States to
be represented. Congress without
word of debate In either house passed
q resolution authorizing the sending
of an American delegation.
The agenda is long and embraces
wide range of topics covering com.
merce. industry and agriculture and
including the financial aspects of all
three. But in q word the conference
will undertake TO analyze the worlds
existing economic difficulties and seek
for remedies.
The delegates will not. however,
have any power to bind their govern
ments, and the findings and the rec.
concentrations of the conference. even
though they should be unanimous.
Will be without any legal force and
effect. In formulating the plans the
Council Of the League was very par
ticular to specify that the conference
would be without any power for "the
conclusion of conventions" and that
discussions were to proceed without
any immediate necessity to transfer
the conclusions into international en-
gagements."
President Is Explicit.
Mr., Coolidge in his message TO.
Congress was equally explicit on this
score. 1T is sufficient to note" he
said, that the conference contem-
plates an inquiry into important prob
lens affecting American interests.
This Government will have the bene.
fit of it's deliberations, but will not
be bound by the results"
He said further, II consider ii i'm.
portant that this Government partici-
pate in the appointment of members
of this conference, not only in order
that this Government may be ade-
quately informed of discussions in
their relation to American interests,
but also in order that the American
point Of view may be duly presented
and in the hope of contributing to the
of sound economic foun-
dations of friendly intercourse and
prosperity. The United States is TAX
ing it's part in the study of the prob
lem of arms limitation at the invita-
ton of the League of Nations. This
country should also stand ready to
aid in the study of means to promote
economic progress"
Hits Rubber Question.
Some of the matters of the "conver
sations," upon which it is desirable
that the American point of view" be
ole urIu hxy hn
detailed agenda of the conference.
Near the top of the list under the
heading Liberty of Trading" appears
the significant line "(b) limitation, reg,
ulation and monopolization of trade"
That subject cannot be talked about
very long without considering the
world rubber trade and the British
rubber monopoly. The next paragraph
is ''(c) economic and fiscal treatment
of nationals and companies of one
country admitted to settle In the ter
ritory of another" Here surely is the
Mexican question. Then follows the
topic obstacles to international trade
arising from form, level and instability
OF imports and export tariffs" Rep
resenting the leading high tariff coun-
try of the world, the American dele
gates will have some tall talking to
DO when the tariff question comes up.
Matters OF ship subsidies, co-opera-
tive marketing and similar live"
American questions are also on the
program. The conference will at
tempt, too, to reach some conclusions
relating to remedies for the reduced
purchasing power" of Europe. Tucked
away IN this momentous problem Is
the business or American private loans
ana American bankers credits. All of
something else besides talk about
naval and land armament-and mat
ters or equal moment--are in prospect
Tor THIS Summer at Geneva.
Belgian to Preside.
The American delegation to the
Economic Conference is to be drawn
from civil life. 1t Is planned to send
five delegates-men eminent i'll the
realm of finance and trade, with yari
Gus and sundry expert economic ad.
visers. t. w. Page. former member
of the Tariff Commission and now di
rector of the Institute OF Economics
In Washington, and Allyn Young. pro.
fessor of economics at Harvard Uni
versity, represented the United States
on the preparatory committee which
framed the agenda of the conference
1t is likely that one or both will serve
In the American mission either as del.
egateS or advisers.
The presiding officer at the confer.
ence will be Georges Theunis of Bel.
GUM, who headed the preparatory
committee. To date Spain is the only
large nation which has declined an
invitation to participate. SPANS re-
fusal is a reflection of the position
she took with reference to League of
Notinp's activities when Gho Ira do
MED a permanent seat in the League
Council last year
The conference is expected 10 be of
relatively short duration. 1t will
probably complete its conversations"
IN the snace of q month or six weeks