Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
EUROPEANS STUDY
GRAIN CONDITIONS
Economic Experts of League
Give Little Attention to
Tariff Union.
BY REGINALD WRIGHT KAUFMAN.

BY REGINALD WRIGHT Kaufman.
BY Radio to The Star.
GENEVA, October 26.-The economic
committee of the League of Nations
gave almost none of its attention to-
day to the proposed European economic
union and tariff truce. Instead, it de-
voted its single meeting largely to con-
sidering the present agricultural situa-
ton. especially with regard to the &C.
reals, and decided to call early next
year an international conference OF ex-
perts to suggest possible remedies.
Leading American agriculturists will
be invited to assist at the conference.
Other nations represented will be Ger
many, the Argentine. Australia, Aus
tria, Belgium, Canada. Denmark,
Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain,
Hungary, India, Italy, Norway, the
Netherlands, Poland, Rumania, Switz-
erland, Jugoslovia and Czechoslovakia.
Study Eastman Statement.
Reactions were, however, frequent
and various to yesterdays statement
of Lucius r. Eastman, American in
dustrial expert, who declared that
American business would not dread any
mutual lowering of inter- European tar
ifs so long as that entailed no tarln
raising against American goods.
Most of the committee members con-
sidered this statement as token OF
good will on the part of the United
States, but several were inclined to
read into it a warning, and small
group seemed to see no reason why the
proposed cooperative association of the
European States should not defend
itself" This point of view was thus
c,1r,V,, cd nm hU ono YrOnnpnt EllrODe0n
committeeman:
America understands fair play
therefore she will understand us If
when she discriminates against us, we
discriminate against her"
Although Great Britain's announce
ment of her willingness to take part in
the general gathering for tariff reduc-
ton was no surprise, the news Is not
taken as indicating England'S inclina-
ton to join any EUROPEAN tariff union
that might result. On the contrary. 1t
is insisted that her obligations to her
iominionS are more likely to have a
contrary effect.
Would Aid Car Tourists.
Meanwhile. the Leagues fiscal COM
mittee has concluded its session for the
year with certain recommendations II
the realm of the automobile which may
nave OeCl0eQ interest lot American
motor tourists in Europe. The Inter
national Touring Alliance, with which
the American Automobile Association
is affiliated, had asked the committee
to seek through the League exemption
in foreign countries for touring auto
mobiles, suggesting that they be re-
lieved from imposts for the first two
months of their stay, and that what
ever taxes were claimed be not levied
when the driver applied at the frontier
for a license.
The fiscal committee decided that
the ideal method was entire exemption
of such cars by means of general OF
bi-lateral conventions thus doing away
with taxation formalities. The COM
mittee further considered whether FX-
emption should be dealt with by sim
gle multi-lateral convention or by two
conventions, one for the countries ac-
cording complete exemption, another
for those granting limited exemption
The decision favored single conven-
ton for all the signatories according
limited exemption. with an additional
and optionol protocol for the states
granting total exemption.
Copyright. 1927