Evening star., 1937-04-02
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Fourteen million workers in textile
industries throughout the world are in
volved in the deliberations Of the World
Textile Conference meeting In this city.
Preparatory to the International Labor
Conference to be held at Geneva next
June, where the recommendations Of
this gathering will be among the topics
discussed, it aims to find basis for in
ternational agreement as to hours Of
labor and other working conditions and
as to production and competition in this
widespread and complicated industry.
With representatives of the various gov
ernments, of labor organizations and of
employers present, each having an equal
voice in its conduct, the conference will
be "tripartite" in character. With many
varieties of products, from the raw ma
terial to the finished article, be it of
cotton, silk, jute, hemp or what not, in
cluded in the scope of this industrial
problem; with national, racial, climatic
and other conditions to be considered,
as well as other factors, much of the
discussion will be OF an involved, tech
nical character. With the United States,
however, employing more than 1000, 900
workers in this field; Great Britain,
Germany and Japan an equal number;
France and the Soviet Union about
900 each; India and Italy about
7OO, 900 each, the conference assumes q
character of unusual and worldwide
significance to industry and commerce.
4
Preparatory for its 25th annual meet
ing, which will be held in this city the
latter part of the month, the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States has
taken as the "-eystone" of it's program
Business Looks Ahead" With a wide
range of subjects to be discussed from
this standpoint, including imitation
dangers. taxation, international air
transportation, national conservation
policies, farm tenancy in the United
States and labor relations in industry,
chief interest is expected to center on
consideration of the world trade out
look. This portion Of the program will
include questions as to tariff bargain
ing, what advantages foreign competi-
tors have over American producers in
the American market and abroad, and
what restrictions should apply in the
interest of peace to this country's world
trade in the event of major armed
conflict abroad.
\ Il
Efforts to reconcile the differences be-
tween the Senate and the House neu-
trality bills are about to be resumed
with the return to Washington OF Repre-
sentative McReynolds, chairman Of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, who
has been out of the city during the past
week. The conferees of the two bodies,
it is reported, are ready to meet in an
attempt to determine whether the man
datory features Of the Pittman bill
passed by the Senate shall prevail, or
the provisions Of the House measure
which give to the President certain
amount of discretion in regard to en-
barge against shipment of arms and
other war materials from the United
States. With the administration itself
believing that the latter offers better
opportunity to help this Nation maintain
its neutrality and keep from becoming
involved in war, well-advised opinion
predicts that the McReynolds bill will
constitute the backbone of the one even
tually adopted. Certain of the manda-
tory provisions OF the Pittman bill, it
is believed, however, will be added to it,
these being of a less controversial nature
in connection with steps to be taken by
this country in event of war abroad.
To assist in paying tribute to the
memory and accomplishments of one Of
his famous countrymen, the Ambassa-
dor of France, Georges Bonnet, will 60
to Chicago to attend the celebration
next Wednesday Of LA Sale day" in
honor OF the intrepid explorer Of the
nth century who planted the nag Of
Franco IN the land he named "LouA-