Evening star., 1937-06-15
BY FRANCIS P, CARAVAN.

BY FRANCIS P. CARAVAN.
NEW YORK, June IS (N,A.N.A).-
II marble group depicting lion
devouring donkey were to be placed
before the Department OF State Build
ing in Washington it would COM
memorate flttingly the renewal for
second three-year period Of the
reciprocal trade agreement act.
Perhaps, to complete the symbolism,
there should be included the figure
Of farmer in chains, powerless to
prevent the consumption OF the great
American jackass by the ever-raven-
Gus British lion. Such piece would
well deserve a place in the Nations
hall of infamy.
When first the reciprocal trade
agreement plan for stimulating ex-
ports was proposed in 1894. groups
representing agriculture, industry and
commerce appeared before congress
sional committees to voice their pro-
tests. But they were drowned out
by the chorus of Hull, Wallace, Sayre,
ct al. carolling their economic In
ternationale.'
For three years We have witnessed
internationalism triumphant. The
moment now has come for casting up
the account. I propose to do so in
the succeeding articles. I promise
that the figures, when made to tell
their story in simple language, will
prove revealing.
Disaster Seen Ahead.
But mere figures, however present.
ed, cannot adequately indicate the
disaster that faces us which is di-
rectly attributable to the thoughtless
delegation OF its powers by sub
servient Congress to the executive de-
partments of the Government.
Justice Cardozo has seen in con-
gressional abandonment OF its duties
"delegation run riot" 1t was this
same bending to the will OF the Chief
Executive and his advisers that per-
mitted the Treasury Department to
embark on its calamitous and in
iquitous gold-purchasing policy. 1t
permitted the State Department to
sponsor and administer the trade
agreement act which has converted
favorable trade balance OF s478,Oo0,-
900 In 1884 to an unfavorable balance
Of sl32 100000 In the first four months
OF this year.
Congress has sat idly by, presum-
ably watching our descent into the
abyss, observing the growing control
OF American industry by foreign gov
ernments without instantly checking
the tendency with insistent demands
for payment OF our war debts, Of
which $4,000, 100000 Is owed to US by
Great Britain alone.
The Government consistently re-
fused to keep books on foreign in
vestments here and to investigate the
extent Of European control of Ameri-
cal industry. Nor has Congress flayed
the laxity and inefhciency which is
already bringing us to tragic days.
For Whose Good?"
AS charge after charge Is made,
substantiated by the Governments
own figures, significantly assembled,
the reader should seek the answer
to the judicial question of motive. "Cui
bono?"-"For whose good?"
For whose good are we paying an
exorbitant price for gold, except for
the good OF the power owning three
1ifths Of the worlds gold mines?
For whose good have we been led
into ruinous trade policies, except
Tor the good Of the greatest nation
OF traders on earth?
For whose good has the Secretary
Of the Treasury refused to oounte-
nance debt collection, except for the
good OF our principal debtor?
For whose good has the Depart
ment OF State or OF Commerce failed
to publish sworn statements and in
ventories OF all foreign investments In
The United States, except for the
food OF the largest investor?
g For wohose good, one may ask. was
the recent neutrality" act passed,
except for the benefit OF the nation
which, with its certain allies, can
exert sufficient economic suction to
draw us into war at will?
. Being Sold Into Bondage.
shall prove by their own figures
that the ignorances and incompetence
OF Government executives are selling
US into bondage, If indeed We do not
already occupy that status with re-
spect to Great Britain. She again an
peared before us on debt-settlement
oay, June Is, with the lamentation