Evening star., 1934-03-02
Roosevelt Text
Plea for Tariff Power
Stresses Its Need In
Recovery Plan.
Continued From First Page. }

important that the country pos
SeSS within its borders q necessary
diversity and balance to maintain
rounded national life; that 1t
must sustain activities vital to
national defense and that such in
terests cannot be sacrificed for
passing advantage. Equally clear
is the fact that full and rerma-
nent domestic recovery depends in
part upon a revived and strength
ened international trade and that
American exports cannot be per-
manently increased without a cor
responding increase in imports.
Aids Other Nations.
Second. Other governments are
to an ever-increasing extent win
ming their share of international
trade by negotiated reciprocal
trade agreements. If American ag-
ricultural and industrial interests
are to retain their deserved place
in this trade the American Gov
ernment must be in position to
bargain for that place with other
governments by rapid and decisive
negotiation based upon a carefully
considered program and to grant
with discernment corresponding
opportunities in the Aperican mar
ket for foreign products supple
mentary to our own.
If the American Government Is
not in a position to make fair
offers for fair opportunities, its
trade will be superseded. If it is
not in a position at given mo-
ment rapidly to alter the terms
on which it is willing to deal
with other countries, at cannot
adequately protect its trade against
determinations and against bar
gains injurious to its interests.
Furthermore, a promise to which
prompt effect cannot be given is
not an inducement which can pass
current at par in commercial nego-
tiations.
For this reason any smaller de-
gree Of authority in the hands of
the Executive would be Ineffective.
The executive branches of virtually
all other important trading coun-
tries already possess some such
power.
Says Results Will Be Slow.
I would emphasize that quick re-
suits are not to be expected. The
successful building up of trade
without injury to American pro-
ducers depends upon a cautious
and gradual evolution of plans.
The disposition of other countries
to grant an improved place to
American products should be care
fully sounded and considered; upon
the attitude of each must some
what depend our future course Of
action With countries which are
unwilling to abandon purely restric-
tive national programs, or to make
concessions toward the re-estab-
hshment of international trade, no
headway will be possible.
The exercise of the authority
which I propose must be carefully
weighed in the light of the latest
information so as to give assurance
that no sound and important Amer
lcan interest will be injuriously dis
turbed. The adjustment of our
foreign trade relations must rest
on the premise of undertaking to
benefit and not to injure such in
terests. In a time of. difficulty and
unemployment such as this, the
highest consideration of the posi-
ton of the different branches of
American production is required.
From the policy of reciprocal
negotiation which is in prospect, I
hope in time that definite gains
will result to American agriculture
and industry.
Important branches of our agri-
culture, such as cotton, tobacco,
hog products, rice, cereal and fruit
raising, and those branches of
American industry whose mass
production methods have led the
world, will find expanded oppor-
tunities and productive capacity in
foreign markets, and will thereby
be spared, in part, at least, the
heartbreaking readjuStments that
must be necessary if the shrinkage
of American foreign commerce re-
mains permanent.
A resumption Of international
trade cannot but improve the gen.
eral situation of other countries,
and thus increase their purchasing
power. Let us well remember that
this in turn spells increased op-
portunity for American sales.
Essential to Recovery.
Legislation such as this Is an
essential step in the program of
national economic recovery which
the Congress has elaborated during
the past year. It is part of an
emergency program necessitated by
the economic crisis through which
we are passing. 1t should provide
that the trade agreements shall be
terminable within period not to
exceed three years; a shorter period
probably would not suffice for put
ting the program into effect. In
its execution, the Executive must,
of course, pay due heed to the re-
quirements of other branches of
our recovery program, such as the
national industrial recovery act.
hope for early action. The
many immediate situations in tho
field of international trade that
today await our attention can