Evening star., 1933-05-04
Bares Conditional Approval
for U. S. Trade Truce
With "Safeguards."
U. S. OBSERVERS DOUBT
THAT ACCORD Is NEAR
Prime Minister Reveals Payments
Will Not Be Discussed After
Speech in Commons.
BY the Associated Press.


Ramsay Macdonald told the House Of
Commons today that war debts have
been barred from the program Of the
| World Economic Conference and that
Britain is asking for special safe
guards" in connection with the Amer
ican proposal for tariff truce.
The war debt issue was raised after
the Prime Minister had reported to the
House of his economic discussions In
Washington with President Roosevelt.
In the question period after the re-
port had been made, the Prime Min
lister was asked whether the debts would
be considered at the world parley,
which opens June IL. he replied:
mo"
An authoritative American source as
serted that neither Britain nor France
is in full accord with the American
tariff truce proposal.
Whatever happens, it was said in in
formed circles, there Is no possibility OF
such a truce before the World Economic
Conference convenes.
Quick Action Falls
It was understood that Norman H.
Davis, American Ambassador at large,
was empowered to propose an immediate
truce at last Saturdays meeting Of the
Orpanizing Committee of the confer
ence. but in sounding out the opinion
of delegates before the committee session
he found the atmosphere unfavorable.
Consequently the American drive in
London has been centered on obtaining
a truce during the period OF the World
Conference, and in the present situation
it was said that the Washington Gov
ernment would have to overcome dim
cultieS even to establish an enectlVe
truce at that time.
In addition to hearing Mr.. MacDou-
olds report, the House Of Commons was
asked by Chancellor Of the Exchequer
Neville Chamberlain to increase the ex-
change equalization account from $780,
100000 to f350.o00,0 900 ($585. .0oo, 900
to $1.365, 900 ,000).
Mr.. Chamberlain emphaticaily denied
that this increase was desired in order
that the fund might be used to depress
the sterling rate and thus give British
manufacturers an advantage over Amer
lean and other competitors.
Covers Three Points.
There were three main points in the
prime minister's account Of his jour-
ney to Washington:
/. He revealed that his stipulation
for safeguards" for Great Britain in
effecting the tariff truce had been con-
sidered reasonable" by the United
States.
2. He announced that the war debts
had been frankly examined in all their
aspects" although no agreement was
reached.
8. He informed the House that on
the problem of disarmament he and
President Roosevelt achieved common
views" which already have had effect
at the disarmament negotiations now
going forward at Geneva.
The prime minister, looking vigorous
and healthy after his sea voyage from
New York, was cheered by the members
as he appeared in the House to render
an account of his stewardship.
Tariff Issues Paramount.
The members craned their necks and
sat en- the edges of their seats as, at
the outset of his report he jumped into
the question of the tariff truce.
With tariff issues paramount in the
! House, Mr.. Macdonald made it clear
that while President Roosevelt, Edouard
Herriot of France and he had agreed
On plans for convening the Wcrld Eco
nonlic Conference. the Washington
talks had brought no definite agree
ments in regard to policy, nor had
there been any solutions Of world prob
lens, he said,, although the exchange Of
views was "nfoSt encouraging"
The prime minister announced that
war debts had been frankly examined
in all their aspects but he said that
no fuller statement was possible at the
present time, as the problem "neces-
sarily has not yet reached the stage OF
agreement"
The British position in regard to
tariffs, he told the House, Is different
from that of nations which are already
high tariff countries with policies of
economic defense already fully worked
out and in operation.
Report Called Meager.
The opposition leader, George Lans-
bury, head of the Labor party, charac-
terized the prime minister's statement
as "meager" and called upon him to
take the Commons and the country
| into his confidence and to give q full
statement of the governments policy
generally as regards the World Economic
| Conference"
Mr.. Macdonald agreed to hold On
Tuesday full debate Of the Washing
! ton conversations and of the British
policy at the world economic con-
ference.
The prime minister informed the
House that Mr.. Roosevelt, M. Herriot