Evening star., 1933-06-27
Crop Reports
Delay Work
on Pact.
ACTION TOsWAIT
FULL FIGURES
Conference Near
Breakdown Before
Estimates.
BY the Associated Press.


of the "big four" chief delegates
called an "act of Providence" has
so altered the wheat situation
that the conferees decided today
to wait until crop prospects are
better manifested before approx
ing or disapproving a plan to re-
strict wheat acreage.
Prime Minister Ramsay Mac
Donald, in an hour-long discus
sion of the problem with the
leaders of the "big four" delega
tions, asked for and received in
formation as to the near break
down of the negotiations at the
morning session of the conferees.
The "big four" are the United
States, Canada, Australia and
Argentina.
When he received information
concerning the rise in the price of
wheat on world markets, preSum-
ably because of adverse crop re-
ports, Mr.. Macdonald professed
satisfaction with the progression
Of the negotiations.
Dumping Threat.
A renewed threat of chaos and price
debacles which will follow if the Ameri-
can and Canadian wheat surplus of
the world market acted earlier today
restrictions negotiations.
A conference of representatives of
the "big four" broke up after being in
session for an hour. Stanley M Bruce
of Australia told the representatives
Of the United States, Argentina and
Canada that three Australian states
were adamant in their opposition to the
restriction scheme.
Mr.. Bruce himself is most willing he
declared, to work out some plan where
by Australian adherence to the project
could be assured, but he commented
that the difficulties of his position could
not be minimized.
Conferees Adjourn.
The Americans, in reply, merely called
attention to what the release of the
North AM ~-ican surplus would do to
world markets and said in effect, Gen
tlemen, it must be done"
Afterward 1t was commented that
no one took issue with this statement Of
the position, the problem remaining
how to convince the Australian states.
Mr.. Bruce and the Argentines left
the meeting at this stage and Prime
Minister r. B. Bennett Of Canada and
the Americans remained on discussing
the situation.
Mr.. Bennett departed about noon and
the Americans stayed together another
half hour discussing the situation. One
of them said afterward that they were
convinced that Australia will have to
come into line"
The position now is that the conferees
have adjourned sine die, but it is hoped
that further cable conversations. which
Mr. Bruce will carry on with Canberra
will result in another meeting being
called, perhaps within four or five days.
Downright Necessity.
Argentina's discouragement at devel-
opments was tempered by the American
conviction of eventual success, If for no
other reason than that participation is
downright necessity, in the view of
the United States representatives, to
prevent a market debacle.
Conversations between Mr.. Bruce and
scme of the smaller-producing nations
during the next few days are consid-
eled likely and it is possible the Ar
gentines will be drawn in. The Amer
leans, however. consider that they have
no mandate for conversations outside
the big four.
In quarters close to the conferees it
vas stated that the use of the surplus
in the event of failure to reach an
agreement was only hinted at by the
Americans until the last two meetings.
Then after the speech in the United
States of the Secretary Of Agriculture,
Henry A. Wallace, in which he spoke Of
the possibility, it was laid before other
delegations in SO many words, and it
had the greatest influence on the ne
gotiations.