Evening star., 1932-02-22
EXTENDED IMPORT
BAN ABROAD SEEN
Foreign Nations Pictured as
Grasping at Any Trade.
Control Plan.

Foreign nations, faced with the ne
ceSsity for increasing rvenue5 correct
ing adverse trade balances and protect
ing currency values, we're pictured in a
survty made ILblic today by the Com
merce Department as grasping at any
trade-control measure available for ac-
compliShing any of these ends. The
survey was compiled by Henry Chal-
mers Of the departments division OF
foreign tariff.
The study desc. ibes the measures
adopted by European and other nations
for exclusion Of imports during the sec
ond wear Of the worldwide depression,
whi,h in Mr. Chalmers opinion, only
accentLated the universal slump. The
steps taken included not only increases
in import duties. but quota limitations,
import restrictions in other forms, ex-
change control and even gold er1bargces.
II was held that these efforts had
played no sr:all part in bringing about
the decline Of sl.400 900 600 in the
value Of exports. in 1881, as compared
with the preceding year.
See Further Contraction.
The departments expert asserted
that the measures in process and the
plans in prospect in the various coun-
tries in 1882 foreshadow still fufthei
contraction in international trade dur
ing the year ahead. including many
markets of primary interest to Ameri-
can exports
Mr.. Chalmers refrained from any dis
c,1ssion of the tariff situation of the
United States or the extent to which
this country's protective tariff may have
prompted like action by other nations,
apart from the general conclusion that
adoption Of trade-control in one coun-
try is likely to bring similar measures
IN many others.
In regard to trade-control measures,
the department official said:
Under the highly independent world
economic system Of today. the reper-
cussions of the trade-control measures
or financial dislocations Of any i'm
pcrtant country are so widespread as
10 lead TO similar or defensive reactions
on the Fart OF other countries.
"?hey have taken the form e.:her Of
additional trade restrictive measures or
OF enlarged authority TO one or another
branch of the governments. in their
discretion. TO increase duties or limit
importations. These delegations OF au-
thority were expected TO furnish prompt
means OF meeting new international
situations or Of offsetting the effects OF
commercial or financial measures OF
other nations. actual or anticipated.
Extent Varies Widely.
"The extent Of the reaction varied
widely among the different countries,
depending upon the previous intensity
Of their domestic depression, the de-
gree of economic or financial stability
and the measures Of dependence upon
world markets of foreign financial
centers. as well as upon the mental
state OF apprehension over future
prospects"
Mr.. Chalmers found evidences In a
number Of foreign countries of grow
ing restiveness on the part OF COM
mercial interests over the et Its OF
trade-controi measures adopted 10th by
their own or foreign countries
H.s opinion was that any modifica-
ton OF the movement toward restric-
tion of trade through import control
would depend largely upon an early
solution Of the international financial
situation and upon the appearance of
unmistakable signs of recovery from
the general economic depression.