Evening star., 1934-04-24
Mr.. Hull's Address.


Of the Associated Press in New York
yesterday an address which will be
widely read and which will be re-
garded as both significant and hope
ful. 1t seems improbable that the
Secretary Of State should have spoken
as he did without the full assent and
favor Of President Roosevelt. In the
speech Of the Secretary of State was
the plain declaration that there was
to be no RECOMMENDATION by the Gov
eminent OF the people. Of the work.
ers in industry and Of the workers
in the fields: that there was to be no
lessening Of the freedom of the
press, and that the American tradi-
tions OF democracy and liberalism
were to be preserved in working out
the recovery program-the new deal.
1t would be idle to say that the
American people have not been
aroused by the frequent suggestions
and, indeed, by some Of the acts of
the Government under the laws
enacted by Congress to carry out the
recovery program. to the belief that
Government control Of many. II not
all. Of their activities was the ultimate
end OF some Of the planners. The
address Of the Secretary Of State
therefore. will be all the more well
come because Of these fears. This re-
assurance, however, comes quite nat
urally from one who has been so we'll
grounded in the traditions OF the
democracy. Mr. Hull has never been
charged with being a member of the
brain trust" although no one will
deny that the Secretary of State has
plenty Of brains His was a mastery
presentation of the case for the ad-
ministration. He made reply to
many Of the criticisms which have
been leveled against the Roosevelt
program. And 1t was quite natural
that Mr. Hull should have launched
into a subject which has been for
many years very close to his heart.
the rebuilding of Americas foreign
trade.
Mr.. Hull has been a foremost ad-
herent in this administration of the
proposal to break down as far as pos
sible the barriers to international
trade. These barriers are high pro-
tective tariff walls, embargoes, quota
systems and the like. The Secretary
Of State Is convinced that there can
be no real and lasting recovery until
a greater freedom Of trade among
the nations can be restored. He be-
lieves, too, that there can be no per-
manent peace in the world until the
nations are willing to deal with one
another. Mr.. Hull made no mention
specifically in his address to the As
sociated Press of the Roosevelt reci-
procity tariff bill, which has passed
the House and is soon to come before
the Senate. 1t is we'll understood
however, that this is the measure by
which the administration hopes to
drive the entering breach into the
walls which now prevent international
trade. The arguments which Mr.. Hull
advanced are the arguments which
will be put forward for the need of
such legislation.
The American people generally will
agree with Mr.. Hull that greater for
eign commerce is desirable. even i'm
perative. They have seen foreign
markets more and more denied the
American producers by the trade bar
riers raised by other governments.
The plan contained in the Roosevelt
tariff bill, under which the President
would have the power to reduce tariff
duties by fifty per cent in order to
bring about reciprocal trade agree
ments with other nations, however, is
one that breeds fear in the hearts of
many producers. They fear that their
industries may be traded over night
to foreign competitors, who because of
lower wages and living standards
abroad will be able to undersell them
in American markets. How to allay
this fear and at the same time obtain
the happy results for which the ad-
ministration is striving presents
difficult problem.