Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-27
War Debts and Tariffs.

War Debts and Tariffs.
Out Of the chair Of of1cial com.
muniques which have poured forth
this past International week at Wash
ington, perhaps the only grains Of
wheat thus far to emerge are contained
in an intimation forthcoming from the
White House today. It is to the effect
that President Roosevelt, in his in
satiable search for powers with which
to overthrow the demon depression, will
presently seek from Congress broad
authority to make war debt and tariff
agreements with other governments
Promulgated while M. Herriot was In
Mr.. Roosevelt's actual presence and
within few hours of Mr.. MacDonald's
departure, there is little room for
doubt that the Presidents newest quest
for q blank check Is the direct conse-
quence of his conversations with the
British and French statesmen.
Respecting tariffs, Mr.. Roosevelt's
proposals have long been anticipated
They contemplate the negotiation Of re-
ciprocal treaties with view to speedy
and worldwide readjustment on the
quid pro quo basis. Such treaties would
seek to obliterate that economic ma
tionalism" which Secretary Hull re-
Gently and rightly assailed as obviously
out of place in an interlocking universe
craving to destroy the man-made bar
riers which obstruct the natural flow
of commerce among the peoples of the
earth.
President Roosevelt desires authority
not only to negotiate-that Is the ordi-
nary prerogative of the executive branch
but definitely to conclude tariff pacts
that will equitably serve the interests Of
both the United States and its neighbors
abroad. In the normal course of events,
the administration would require the
advice and consent Of the Senate be-
fore treaties could become effective
The imagination reels at the thought OF
the endless season Of log-rolling, petit
Jogging and delay which would ensue If
Mr.. Roosevelt were under compulsion to
submit for ratification a score or more
of tariff treaties brought about after
painstaking negotiation under presiden-
tial direction, conducted with an eye
single to what lies, in the long run, In
Americas best interests. Rome could
easily burn all the way down while such
fiddling proceeded. The country is not
likely to demur to program that looks
instead to promptness and action. Our
foreign trade Is languishing to an
alarming degree. Anything designed to
restore it will command national ap-
proval.
No White House hint Is given as to
what exactly portends regarding war
debts. The President is represented as
desiring power to come to conclusions
with the European governments which
owe us ten or eleven billion dollars-to
make new deal" with them for re-
payment. There are unofficial sugges-
lions, not lacking in plausibility, that
Mr.. Roosevelt will request Congress to
permit him to postpone the June Ii
payments at least until after the
world monetary and economic confer
ence. On that date Great Britain i:
obligated to pay s75,s5o,ooo, while
France will owe s40,718,Oo0, including
s19,200,000 defaulted in December.
The underlying supposition in all this
is that If the London conference ar
rives at some truly comprehensive
scheme for extricating the world from
its chaotic economic situation, Uncle
Sam will be more minded to revise
the debt structure downward Uncon-
trollable reports are current that
both Messrs. Macdonald and Herrio,
deposited here a virtual ultimatum that
when June IS comes there can only
be, as far as Britain and France are
concerned, either a moratorium or de-
fault.
President Roosevelt is now in posi-
ton to know the true and full inward
ness of the debt situation. The Ameri-
can people will be strongly inclined to
follow the lead he gives them, in light
of the first hand information of which
he has just become possessed. It IS the
hour of grim realities in international
relations. The -red-centers" are
doomed to learn, sooner or later, that
they have to cd he down from the
clouds of unreason, place their feet on
the ground Of actualities and face facts