Evening star., 1937-01-21
ROOSEVELT ASKS
CONTINUANCE Of
TRADE PROGRAM
Makes Appeal to Congress
in Letter to Chairman
Doughton.
ESSENTIAL TO RECOVERY
AND PEACE HE SAYS
Declares Task Is By No Means
Finished and Emergency Con.
ditions' Still Exist.
Ey tie Associated Press.

EF tie Associated Press.
President Roosevelt urged Congress
today to continue the administration
reciprocal trade treaty program as a
means of promoting durable peace"
and balanced economic recovery"
His appeal was made in a letter to
Chairman Doughton of the House
Ways and Means Committee, before
which Secretary Of State Hull ap-
peared in person to ask passage of a
measure extending the trade policy
three years.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the Nations
vigorous initiative in the field Of lib
eralization Of commercial policies has
been an important factor in arresting
the world trend toward national eco
nomic isolation, which seemed almost
irresistible three years ago."
Asserting the task was by no means
finished, the President said "emer-
gency conditions" still exist in inter-
national trade relations, and excessive
barriers continue to operate against
American trade.
Reduction Held Essential.
Their reduction" he wrote, Com
tinues to be an essential requirement
of full and balanced economic re-
covery for our country.
"1n the period which lies irnmedi-
ately ahead, our ability to act swiftly
and effectively in the field of CONNER
cial policy will be indispensable, if
the present favorable and promising
trend toward normalization and ex-
panslon OF international trade. upon
a friendly and constructive basis Of
fair dealing and equal treatment, Is to
go forward"
Oh even greater Importance, Mr..
Roosevelt said, was the effect of lib
eralizing trade practices on interna-
| tional peace.
economic strife, resulting from in
ordinate or discriminatory trade bar
! riers," the President said. lis one OF
the most fruitful sources of political
animosity and military conflict.
"A policy designed to reduce excess
sive trade barriers and to establish
equality of trade rights is a powerful
instrument Of economic appeasement
and stability. 1t thus serves to
strengthen the foundations of world
peace.
Dare Not Relax Effort.
I'm the present unfortunate state of
world affairs we dare not, in justice
to ourselves, relax our effort, or abate
the vigor of our leadership in a world
wide movement for durable peace
through economic prosperity"
| After reviewing conditions which
he said existed when the administra-
ton originally sought power to enter
into reciprocal agreements nearly
three years ago. the President said
that in trade treaties concluded with
is nations. determinations had been
removed and guarantees obtained of
equal treatment in the future.
In the process Of obtaining i'm
provement in our export positions" he
said. 1.-The interests of our producers in
the domestic market have been scrup-
ulously safegllarded."
Emergency Not Over.
Hull told the committee the resolu-
ton extending the Presidents power
to make reciprocal agreements provided
an opportunity for vital accomplish
ment."
While genuine progress has been
made" Hull said, 'the emergency with
which We were confronted three years
ago is not over.
The reciprocal trade agreements
program has demonstrated its effec-
tiveness as an instrument for over
coming this grave emergency-through
thoroughgoing economic disarmament,
without which both enduring pros
perity and military disarmament must
remain forlorn hope.
There is no alternative program
or policy that would lead to condi-
tions of peace rather than economic
impoverishment and overincreasing
armamerts."
The Secretary said is trade agree
ments had been signed.
Duties have been reduced on some
Of our most important agricultural
(See TRADE, Page A-14)