Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
A Mouse Brought Forth.

A Mouse Brought Forth.
II there were ever a classic example
of q mountain that labored, only to
bring forth q mouse, the worldwide
agitation which preceded, and projected
itself into, the International Chamber
of Commerce Congress at washington
seems to deserve that description. For
months 1t was mooted here and abroad
that the great conclave Of business
which ended its sessions yesterday would
come conclusively to grips with German
reparations and interallied war debts.
Pilloried by economists of high and lew
degree as one Of the fundamental causes
of financial chaos throughout the globe,
it was freely predicted that the issue
would be raised with vehemence and
tackled with vigor.
At its closing session the chamber
adopted an innocuous all-embracing
resolution entitled Restoration Of Inter
national Trade" The section concerned
with reparations and war debts, which
are referred to under the general cap
ton Of international obligations" reads
as follows:
International obligations have been
made definite in amount and in terms
as between nations. The integrity OF
such obligations is always fundamental
to the maintenance OF international
credit and to the expansion OF COM
1nerce and industry. The observance OF
this essential principle, however, Is not
inconsistent with an impartial examina-
ton of the effects of these obligations
on international trade, IL warranted by
changed economic conditions, such ex-
animation to be based on the principles
laid down by the International Cham
Der Of Commerce at its congresses.
This leaves matters very much where
they were before Mother Earth's cap
Aains Of industry pooled their intelli-
gehce in conference. The Interna-
tional Chamber Of Commerce does not
advocate reconsideration Of "interna-
tional obligations" 1t contents itself
with anarming that there Is no objec-
ton to q determination II warranted
by changed conditions The Germans
claimed in the meeting here that condi-
tions have changed, and changed vitality.
But they failed to induce the Interna-
tional Chamber to 60 hat-footedly on
record in favor Of revising the Young
plan. The Reich must be satisfied with
Q pious expression Of opinion that the
separations incident Is not necessarily
closed.
On the other International Chamber
issue that stirred controversy here
tariffs, and the American tariff
In pArtieular-thers was adopted q
somewhat more pointed resolution. 1t
sets forth that national and interna-
donal trade should be encouraged by the
removal Of every obstacle possible;
tariffs should not discriminate unfairly
between nations" Then comes this
thinly yelled thrust at our own tariff
system: THE machinery provided by
some countries for the adjustment of
tariff inequalities should be utilized
without delay" When the chamber
thus highly resolved, it obviously had in
mind the flexible tariff provisions Of the
new American tariff law-"maehinery'
which 30 far has not yet worked in the
direction Of removing inequalities with
which even the friends Of the Hawley-
Smoot act admits that it bristles.
President Hoover did not induce the
international Chamber of Commerce to
go along with him in the theory that
ornaments are the root of the depres-
sion evil. World business merely "com-
mends the efforts being made by gov
ernments to reduce armaments 70 the
lowest possible limit" That Is Europe
way Of reafarming its present-hour
creed: Security first, and economy