Evening star., 1938-09-22
MORE FREEDOM
IN TRADE URGED
'Oictatoria| Economies Hit
by Speaker at Session of
Management Congress.

Declaring that the restrictions ap-
piled to trade by an authoritative
regime produces static economy and
lowered living standards, a delegate
from Czechoslovakia today told the
Seventh International Management
Congress that an important question
now is whether and to what extent
it is possible that, if the dictatorial
economies continue to make headway,
such economies can exist and func-
ton side by side with democratic
economies"
The speaker, DR.. A. Basch, general
manager of the United Chemical and
Metallurgical Works Of Prague, dis
claimed any intention Of pleading
for free trade" but emphasized that
there must be more freedom in trade,
with business subjected less to the
authority Of the state.
Example Is Urged.
THE problem is not to be solved
separately and it is especially difficult
to solve it in small economic units"
he said 1T Is therefore the duty of
the great powers to set an example and
take such steps, through international
cola boration, as will enable the smaller
countries to participate in world trade
by developing that trade more freely.
Further regulation, further system
atization of economy, will only bring
further difficulties. tensions, waste of
capital, danger Of war, etc" DR.. Basch
continued. whereas a return to eco
nomic sense, to the economic laws now
so frequently denied to private enter
prise-a return to these things with
the simultaneous assistance of the
state and Of autonomous corporations
will bring about a situation tending
toward peace and will be instrumental
in re-establishing balance in world
trade, with an attendant rise in the
standard of living"
'Psuedo Economists Scored.
Dr. Basch spoke at the general ses-
sion of the congress at the Willard
Hotel, which fheard "psuedo economists
and irresponsible promisers seeking
leadership and power scored by
Charles r. Hook, president of the
National Association of Manufacturers
and Of the American Rolling Mill Co.,
who was member Of the presidential
commission which recently studied
labor conditions in Great Britain and
Sweden.
Defending the principle of free en-
terprise, Mr. Hook declared that "far-
sighted, efficient and socially conscious
management asks for no blank check
on the bank of individual and cor
porate freedom. 1t does ask and be-
lieves that history proves that it has a
right to ask for only such regulation
and control as will protect the public
interest by preventing the abuse of
privilege by penalizing unfairness and
dishonesty and by taking from indus
trial profits only such an amount in
taxes as does not unduly penalize or
handicap business"
If the American system of free en-
terprise Is to be continued he said,
N1ONCA CAAAAlCAG SOu1PNtAVAoAl WILL pllNdGC
industry must be eliminated and Gov
ernment expenditures limited ito those
needed for the economical admins
tration OF the legitimate functions OF
government, together with adequate
relief appropriations for the unem-
ployed." To supplement, he said, the
management must give the public an
understanding of the facts about the
free enterprise system.
A picture of some OF the contro-
versial aspects of the New Deal,
sketched by proponents, was before the
congress today as the sessions neared
end.
At dinner meeting last night at
the Washington Hotel representatives
Of half dozen New Deal agencies
outlined briefly their work and prob
lens before an audience that In