Evening star., 1935-06-06
TYD|NCS URGES
TARIFF PARLEY
CounseIs U. S. to Go Slow
on Change in Policy Until
Problem Is Settled.

Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland, today counseled the Gov
ernment to go slow" about making
sny alterations in tariff policy until
world trade and other problems can
be thrashed out in international con-
ference.
He expressed this opinion as the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
pondered recommendation by Francis
B. Sayre, Assistant Secretary Of State,
that the United States ratify a pend
ing international agreement.
This agreement provides that sig
natories to economic pactS involving
several nations-that is, multlateral
conventions-would not be required to
give the benefits Of these agreements
TO non on-signatories just because of
most favored nation" clauses in other
treaties.
Might Hinder Treaties.
A most-favored- clause is
one in which two nations promise to
give each others goods just as favor
able treatment in the way Of reduced
tariffs or other benefits as they accord
to other countries.
Secretary Hull said that sometimes
"the St-favored nation clause
might unnecessarily hinder the de-
velopment of multllateral treaties by
placing upon proposed parties un-
necessary obligations or endoWlng
countries which do not become parties
with undeserved benefits"
Though Sayre was reported to have
denied that the treaty he wants
ratified would have any bearing on
administration tariff policy, Senator
Borah. Republican, of Idaho, said
he believed one object was to clrcum-
vent the most characterization obstacle
through the multilateral agreement
idea.
Questions Value of PaCtS.
Senator Tydings questioned the
value of multilateral agreements under
present conditions.
Whats the use Of having a multi
lateral agreement when parties to 1t
can get around the letter OF its
stipulations by shifting their currency
values?" he asked.
"Of course, if there are reasonable
limitations in such an agreement that
would be another thing. It's all a
matter Of circumstances.
He said the tariff problem is so
strongly intertwined with problems
of exchange. disarmament and war
debts that all should be threshed out
together in an international con-
ference.
You can't consider any of these
things separately he said in rei,er-
ating his belief that President Roose-
velt should call a world conference on
such matters in Washington.
Validity Is Questioned.
While the committee devoted all
of its time yesterday to the new
agreement, an attack on the consti-
tutionality CT the present reciprocal
tariff act developed in the light Of
the Supreme Courts N. R. A. ruling.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, Of
Michigan has a bill before the COM
mittee to scrap the trade agreements
already negotiated and prevent new
ones, holding the N. r. A. decision
nulliied the authority to the Pres
ident TO negotiate these agreements
without Senate ratification.
apparently" Vandenberg said aft
er the meeting, the Hull-Wallace-
Tugwell-Sayre program is to go ahead
without interruption, at least until
some outraged citizen takes the mat
ter into court Then, there will be
another st. Valentines day massacre
by the Supreme Court"
Senator Lewis. Democrat, Of Ill
inois. another committee member,
commented that the N. R. A. decision
had cast doubt over the constitution
ality of the law, unless the President
IS required to return the agreements
to the Senate for approval.