Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07
BY CASTOR NERVAL.


TN the short period Of two weeks. two
major commercial conferences aim
ing at the development Of interna-
United States.
The first, at Washington, was attend
ed by 1000 delegates representing at
least 48 nations of the world. The
other, at New York City, was made up
Of representatives of all exporting Amer
lean concerns engaged in foreign trade.
Both the Washington world conven-
ton Of the International Chamber Of
Commerce and the meeting Of the Ma
tional Foreign Trade Council in New
York were characterized by the pre-
eminent role that matters Of interna-
tional trade played In them. An in
creased commercial interchange among
nations and the influence that this will
have in bringing about worldwide eco
nomic recovery were the two outstand-
ing topics of discussion.
In the midst of the gravest economic
depression that the world has ever
known, the outcome Of these confer
ences and the significance of their con-
illusions are directly augmented by the
critical circumstances Of the moment.
Depression, with its four maleflc horse
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, wage cutting, tax
increase and suppression of credit-has
been pushing backward foreign trade
statistics all over the world.
May Speed Up Recovery.
Remedies suggested by experts to stop
this extraordinary decline in 1nterna-
tlonal trade have, therefore, particu-
lar significance at this moment, 1or
they may have a marked influence IN
speeding up the recovery OF an eco
nomically stricken world
AS I said before IN commenting upon
the Chamber of Commerce gathering In
Washington, whether the delegates were
justified or not in describing the eco
nomic situation Of the world in such
discouraging phrases as they did, and
whether they we're right or wrong IN
doubling the optimistic predictions OF
Uncle Sam, one outstanding conclusion
appears to emerge out Of these confer
ences-the recognition by the leading
nations of the earth that economic in
Independence Is the predominating law
today. In the case of the National For
eign Trade Council, which convened in
New York last week. such recognition
was made by the representatives Of the
most important industrial and exporting
firms in the United States.
CO-OperatlOn StreSSe0.
In both conferences the principle OF
International cooperation in CONNER
cial matters was stressed above every
thing else, and out of them came
stronger than ever the almost automatic
truth that the progress and prosperity
Of any particular country Is inevitably
bound up with the progress and pros
perity of all humanity.
a1{I If fho RECOGNITION
of these principles may be found in the
open and energetic attack upon high
tariffs and protective import duties
which characterized the two recent COM
mercial congresses. High tariffs were
nearly unanimously condemned as OBJ
structive barriers standing in the way
of commercial interchange, and even
pointed to as one Of the causes which
originated the present economic crisis.
The criticism of high protective tariffs
made by American business men gath
cred in New York was almost as strong
as that which recently preceded it in
Washington by the delegates of several
foreign countries.
Moreover, now comes communique
from the Pan-American Union an
nouncing that the forthcoming fourth
Pan-American Commercial Conference,
to be held in Washington next October,
will devote its time principally to the
elimination of trade barriers" among
he republics of the Western hemisphere,
describing as such high customs tariffs,
import and export prohibitions and re-
strictions, and an excessive degree Of
governmental protection"
Denounces High Tariffs.
But where high-hatted high tariffs
received the greatest blow was at New
York last week, when Ambassador NAL
bran Of Argentina denounced them be-
fore the Foreign Trade Councils annual
convention. I had occasion to attend
the New York meeting, and was frankly
impressed by the favorable reception the
criticisms of Ambassador Malbran
against the American protective tariff
met from American business leaders
gathered to hear him.
In his discussion of trade relations
between the United States and his own
country the Argentine diplomat ex-
planned, with the aid of statistics and
official figures, how the totals of Argen-
tine exports to the United States had
been cut almost to half by the highly
protectioniStic tariff approved by the
1880 Congress. Specifying the cases Of
linseed. wool, hides and beef, the articles
imported in largest quantity from Ar
gentina, Ambassador Malbran described
the Hawley-SmOOt tariff as a "Drohibi-