Evening star., 1933-06-19
rift SEEN in u. S. DELEGATION
Publicity Given Tariff Cut
Plan Reported to Have
Caused Dissension.
"Complacency" Of Ex. Gov.
Cox Said to Have Caused
Annoyance.
BY JAY G.. HAYDEN.

BY JAY G. HAYDEN.
LONDON, June 10 (N.A.N.A).-The
| first serious ruction in the American
delegation to the World Economic Con-
ference is now in progress as result
| OF the publication OF large headlines
! in all the London Sunday newspapers
| Ct an alleged official announcement that
the United States had proposed "a III
per cent horizontal reduction OF i'm
! port duties" by all nations participating
! In the gathering here.
An immediate mutilateral cut was the
first of several subjects suggested Tor
consideration Of the Economic Commit
| tee of the conference in memoranda
labeled as submitted by the American
delegation" but actually 1t was handed
to the League of Nations secretariat,
which largely Is governing the pro-
| cedure, by Henry Chalmers minor
American expert. Not only has TINS
memoranda not been approved by the
delegation, but when Secretary OF state
Cordell Hull casually broached the pro-
posal OF a 10 per cent tarin cut on
Friday four OF the six members OF ths
American group-Senator Key Pittman,
Senator James CouZens, Representative
Samuel D. McReynolds and Ralph Nor
rison-immediately said they were OPP
posed, and the matter was dropped
without being put to vote.
Dissenters Annoyed.
It is easy to imagine the annoyance
Of these men when they opened news
papers two days later to find them
selves placed in the light Of proposing
this plan. Senator Pittman immedi-
ately issued denial that the proposal
was sponsored by the delegation, but
this fell far short Of appeasing the
wrath within the delegation, which IS
sure to flare up later.
The incident, in fact, came as ch-
max to a week in which discomfort
among the American negotiators was
steadily increasing. The major COM
plant appears to be that if the United
States has definite policy, either as
respects tariffs or currency stablllza-
ton, the two subjects which are chiefly
to be considered here, it has not been
revealed to the Nations supposed plen-
ipotentiaries.
1t is furthermore asserted that while
discussion of the most vital sort respect
ing stabilization has been taking place,
the official delegates have been given
little information as to what was TAX
ing place and apparently are expected
to have no voice in the decision.
The United States clearly has not
one delegation, but two. President
Roosevelt sent o. M. w. Sprague and
James M Warburg with specific COM
mission to negotiate currency stabiliZa-
ton to apply to an experimental period
of six weeks. These men regard them
selves as answerable solely to President
Roosevelt and Secretary Of the Treas
ury Woodin. and ONLY when they were
insistently invited to appear before the
conference delegation did Mr.. Sprague
and Mr. Warburg give the delegates
a few crumbs Of information regarding
what has been going on in the back
room of the Bank of England, where
they have been comforting with George
L. Harrison of the Federal Reserve and
representatives of the central banks OF
other countries.
Delegate Morrison's View.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the
men who came here believing that cur
rency sterilization was one of the big
gest jobs they themselves had TO do,
and who individually were full OF ideas
on the subject. are annoyed that the
whole business seemingly has been
taken out of their hands. An example
is Mr.. Morrison, whose economic ideas
have been derived through years of
trading in such basic commodities as
cotton. oil and lumber, and who is pri-
marily interested in keeping prices OF
these commodities on the upgrade and
opposed to any fixing Of the value OF
the dollar in terms of foreign exchange
at this time.
While conceding the time may come
when stabilization will be desirable, Mr..
Morrison insists that prices of commodi-
ties have not yet risen to the point
where they should be checked. Spe-
cifically, he believes imitation should
continue until wheat sells at 80 and
cotton at IL.
Senators Couzens and Pittman and
Representative McReynOlds appear no
less definitely as strongly infiationist.
The discomfort Of these men has been
somewhat appeased since President
Roosevelt rejected the proposed stabill-
zation agreement, but it may break out
any time this is revived. There is no
doubt the President sent Messrs.
Sprague, Warburg and Harrison in
structions to negotiate temporary stabil-
ization. The fact that Mrs. Harrison
has sailed for home however. indicates
in the immediate future. One difnculty
is known to be how the dollar will be
held at fixed ratio to the pound and
franc, once this Is determined. Mr..
Harrison is known to have said that
unless the embargo against gold ship
ments Is lifted, the Federal Reserve
Bank Of New York certainly Is not will
ing to assume the responsibility, and
experts doubt that the treasury is EN-
powered to divert tax revenue to
stabiliZation fund.
Annoyed With Cox.
One member OF the American dele
CATION is seemingly quite contented to
date, former Gov Cox Of Ohio, who
was named chairman of the important
Monetary Commission and who is
slated to become chairman Of the dele
cation If Mr.. Hull goes home soon, as
expected. The complacency Of Mr.. Cox
however, is just another OF the numer-
Gus annoyances which are affecting his
colleagues The former Governor. al
though this is his first international
venture. is proceeding quite as though
it is his individual show. At least. that
is what his associates are saying about
him. They allege that he Is holding
private conferences with Prime Minister
Macdonald bankers and what not, but
when 1t comes to delegation meetings
the reports are virtually nothing.
The situation has one possible saving
feature. and this is the fact that all the
American delegates are listening in
tently for any word that may come
from the White House. 1t is reason
able to assume that President Roose-
welt, at some stage, viii tell them what
to do. and if so, the majority certainly
will follow. 1t is quite clear, however
that the Presidents supposed official
spokesmen here are every bit as un-
certain which direction the administra-
tion is headed as the least of the mill
lions of folk in the world Whp trv-