Evening star., 1933-05-05
IMMEDIATE TARIFF
TRUCE IS REJECTED
BYBR|T|SH CABINET
Macdonald Unable to Swing
Ministers to U. S. Plan
in Two Sessions.
DAVIS DISCUSSES PLAN
WITH PRIME MINISTER
Proposal for Armistice, Effective
From Beginning of London
Farley, Still Weighed.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 5.-Premier MacDon-
aid in two long cabinet sessions today
failed to swing his ministers to sup
port the American proposal for a
world tariff truce effective Immediately.
The American proposal was that the
customs armistice should begin at once
and continue throughout the World
Economic and Monetary Conference.
The prime minister's failure to OBJ
tain his cabinets approval for this
action was authoritatively learned after
full day Of negotiations on the tariff
issues.
The first conversations upon the pro-
posal were between Mr.. Macdonald and
Norman H. Davis, the American Am
bassador at large. Thereafter the sug-
sestion was discussed by the prime min
lister and his cabinet in morning and
afternoon session. Later the same ques-
tion was treated at a conference be-
tween Mr.. Davis and Sir Robert Van
Sittart. permanent undersecretary OF
state for foreign affairs.
Davis Leaving This Week End%
The American proposal for truce,
effective from the beginning OF the
London conference, Is still under con-
sideration by the British government,
whose policy, it is understood, still re-
mains unformulated.
Mr.. Davis will leave for Geneva to-
morrow or Sunday. 1t is learned in au-
thoritative British quarters that Pre-
mier Macdonald will not go to Geneva
Monday, as had been reported from
Geneva.
The Manchester Guardian, in out
spoken criticism of Mr.. MacDonald's
reference in the House of Commons
yesterday to British safeguards" in
accepting the tariff truce, said edi-
torially that the prime minister struck
"a heavy blow at the success OF the
World Economic Conference unless his
statement is quickly explained away
The Guardian characterized as "amaz-
ing the prime minister's explanation
to the House, saying it indicated that
he thought a world tariff truce for the
period of the World Economic Confer
ence did not mean truce binding on
Britain.
The World Economic and Monetary
Conference probably will last six
months, starting with two months IN
tensive organization and the handling
of major problems, such as tariffs and
monetary questions, according to views
expressed in British political circles.
The public sessions at the beginning
of the conference are expected to last
two weeks, if the principal Spokesmen
of 60 nations which will attend take
the opportunity of expressing their pol
icies and their hopes for the confer
ence.
Preparing for Conference.
While the flood Of oratory is pro-
ceeding, important committees Will De
dealing with the main problems behmo
the scenes and important decisions may
be reached soon after the conference
starts, If hopes of its organizers are
fulfilled.
With the League of Nations Assembly
meeting in September, there Is pos
sibility of the adjournment OF the
london Conference in Augustswith re-
sumption in the middle of September
for making effective the detailed WORK
aimed at world recovery.
London newspapers agreed that con-
siderable success attended Prime MIN
lister MacDonald's conversations with
President Roosevelt.
The Times, which especially praised
the results of the premiers visit to
America, strongly urged the necessity
that the government adopt a DEFINITE
policy before the World Economic Con-
ference begins June II.
Mr.. Macdonald told the House OF
Commons yesterday that Great Britain
sought special safeguards" in con-
nection with the American proposal 1or
a tariff truce, and that war debts would
not be discussed at the London con-
versations.
The absence of any declaration OF
policy in the prime minister's report
was one Of the chief grounds for criti-
cism in today's newspapers.
The News Chronicle found the state.
ment vague and unsatisfactory, and
said 1t suspected that the government
''has no policy to submit to the World
Economic Conference"
The usual bland assurance that we
are advancing nicely in no definite d.
rection" was the way in which the Mlr-
,o,. Incrrihod tho statement