The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-04

"Tho increase which has taken place In our foreign trade sinco tho | sFade.agre0mentS program was be- gun is striking" Senator Lsaefgan said, Tn this year, lo37, our tota' foreign trade will Do practically double what it was in i033, tho yea, before the program was undertaken While, of course, al of this increase cannot Do attributed to th9 sixteen agreements that have been eon- eluded thus far, indications are not lacking that these agreements have played an important part In tho result.
 Imports
 Imports from tho trado.agree. mont countries for tho first nine months Of iD37 increased by 27,4 DOT cent over tho corresponding period of i030 while imports from nons agreement countries by 4A4 DOT cent Tho greater relative increase in imports from non.agfeoment countries would suggest that In making concessions to foreign coun- tries great care has bee neXoreised, and that the United States b not being 'sold down the river," through trade agreements. Tho greater in- crease from agreement eouna tries, might add, largely representa- imports of raw materials, some of which keep tho wheels of industry going In the highly developed New England states. If through tho trade agreements, cheaper raw materials are made available, tho owners Of, and workers in, tho industries using these materials would do better to support tho effort being made by tho government to expand foreign trade than to express alarm over tho in. creased Imports Of Bemo things which must necessarily accompany increased exports Of others.
 "1ho two currents ef trade Witl, agreement countries have been runs hing somewhat parallel, with m in' crease in exports to those countries Of e270, ,994,000 and !n imports from them Of e202, D33000 for tho first three quarters Of io37, over tho eor- responding period Of iO30. In TO. turn for our carefully safeguarded reductions in duty on selected pro. duets, foreign countries have 70. dueed tariffs, relaxed quotas and eliminated dlseriminatlons against tho products of American farms and factories. The figures quoted above indicate tho tangible results os ths reciprocal action,
 Good NelghboF Policy
 "Tbe tFade.agroemen program, gives substance to tho whole good- sleighbeF policy h that t reduces the causes Of economic distress and social unrest and thegeb lessons thd danger Of international conflict, l believe that We have generally uns derestlmated tho part that eXees. Bive trade barriers and trade dls' eFiminationB have played in creating tho unfortunate social and political conditions In Q number Of countries which We fear may lead to war Those who approve tand that, ! De- iieve, includes tho great majority es our people, tho efforts Of tho goV- eFnment to bring about the reduction Of military ornaments and tho peaceful settlement Of disputes should also applaud tho tgade.aggee' ments program, it is the economic corAllary 10 military dlBaFmainenh
 Trade Agreements
 "The success Of the traae.agfee" Inents program, enlarged to include additional and important countries such as tho United Kingdom VIII restore confidence in tho ability or statesmAn and governments to cope with difficult international eeos homie problems which otherwise might lsad to armed conflicts The earnest prosecution of thls con: structlve program at thb junetnre of world events B highly essential lw abandonment would seriously ln' deI7nlne the ability of our goverii' ment to exert R strong Influence to' ward peace. Those who desire to do moro than lip service to the cause of peace should, In my opinion, lay aside their criticism Of the trade- agreements program and give it theiF hearty gippoft,"