Evening star., 1933-05-10
Asks That Proposed Import
Taxes Be Set Aside Dur
ina Economic Truce.
GREAT BRITAIN ACCEPTS
AMERICAN SUGGESTIONS
New United States Note Paves
Way for Agreement Among
Nations.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt definitely indi-
Gated today that in view Of the world
tariff truce, he does not think the
United States should impose import
taxes on agricultural products, as pro-
vided under the new farm bill, during
the period of the truce.
He believes there will be no neces-
sity for levying these import charges
between now and June II, when the
World Economic Conference meets in
London, and the preliminary truce
would expire. The United States plans
to move second truce at the opening
of the conference to cover its duration.
Provisions of Bill.
The farm bill provides for processing
taxes on wheat. cotton, corn, hogs, rice.
tobacco and dairy products as a means
Of raising the amount the farmer re-
ceives. To prevent foreign imports Of
these products from benefiting in the
American market. compensatory tax
would be levied on the same articles
brought into this country.
The farm bill now is in the final
stage OF enactment, and probably will
reach the President in very short time.
Developments as to the tariff feature
today would not affect its administra-
ton as a whole, plans already being
under way at the Agriculture Depart
ment to get the nuge machinery under
way
Cheered by progress. Mr.. Roosevelt
is most hopeful that a permanent truce
to last through the London Economic
Conference can be negotiated.
The President has virtually decided
to send to Congress a request for
authority to deal with other nations on
the tariff on a reciprocal basis, although
he puts this plan still in the probable
class.
War debts and disarmament discus
sions are banned in the White House
speculation, as it was made clear Mr..
Roosevelt was not ready to speak for
publication on these topics.
Acceptance Predicted.
Meanwhile wide acceptance of the
American plan for q universal tariff
truce was predicted in ofici-l quarters
after strenuous and finally successful
efforts to obtain Great Britatn's adher-
ence.
The tariff truce represented the first
real test Of the newly-assumed Roose-
welt leadership in world economic affairs.
Its acceptance by Great Britain was
seen here as removing the last big
obstacle to general approval.
France already has accepted with the
proviso that 1t may increase its duties
to meet further currency depreciations
and that the truce shall not apply to
tar1n measures already before its par
fyrn @f
Europes big four" Italy and Germany,
have already assured President Roose-
welt through their special spokesmen
sent here that they are favorably in
clined
japan has indicated conditional ap-
proval and China. through T. v. Soong,
finance minister who IS now in WASH
ington. likewise indorsed the idea. Bel
GUM and Holland also expressed their
approval through their diplomatic rep
resentatives here
President Victorious.
Great Britain was the real stumbling
block. but the persistence Of the Pres
ident. who instructed Ambassador at
Large Davis to stay in London until he
won the government over, finally pre-
vailed. One factor which led the Brit
ish to hold back was their lack Of sue
cess several years ago when they un-
dertook to inaugurate a similar tariff
truce
The United States at that time, in
stead of joining, raised its rates by the
Smoot-Hawley tariff act Of 1880.
Shortly thereafter Great Britain aban-
doned its traditional policy of free
trade
A conciliatory attitude on the part
Of Germany, which will make possible
definite accomplishments at the Gene
va Disarmament Conference, Is being
sought by the President.
This was disclosed today as the aft
ermath of conferences at the White
House and State Department in which
the American hopes and desires on
arms limitation were made clear to the
Nal government representative, DR..