Twin-City herald., 1939-10-07
WASHINGTON
JOTTlNGS

One of the busiest places in the
Capital at this moment is the Depart
rient of Commerce office where busi-
ness experts are studying many In
quires.
AS a result of the European war
there has been flood of inquiries from
Latin America and ali of them involve
millions of dollars worth of trade:
Government experts feel that this Is
the natural place for Latin America to
go shopping since trade with Europe
has been cut off.
There has been a flood of letters and
cables from Latin American firms WANT
ing to know whether they can buy
specified items in the United States.
They want to know about the cost
what credit can be arranged what
currency exchange obstacles may have
to be overcame.
It's big job, and the Commerce
Departments experts intend to ana
lyze all requests before any decisions
are made.
Personally, I think a policy calling
for caution in the drafting of certain
trade arrangements is wise at this
time.
We don't, for example, want to do
anything which would bring flood
of products to this country to campete
with our own.
South America Is anxious to reach
agreements with us on certain trade
and exchange, but this must be watch
ed closely.
Several weeks ago l told you about
proposal which would permit the
entry of dairy products to campete
with those of our own farmers.
/ spoke against the proposal and
urged dairy forces and others to unite
in protest against the plan.
Here in Washington they know, we
in Minnesota, mean business when we
90 out to protect the markets for our
farmers.
Well, same of the Senators and
Congressman here for the special ses-
sion are worrying about whether OF
not Americas defences are adequate
Today Senator Wagner of New
York and Connolly of Texas-botf
Democrats-suggeste a survey of the
Nations dcfenses.
They'd like to know, they said
whether the defenses are adequate te
meet any threat to the security of the
United States.
Senator Connolly, member of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
said an additional 81, ,OO0,O 100000 for the
already-expanded army and navy could
be we'll spent.
And Wagner, the Senator of the Ia
Dor law fame, agreed that there shoulc
be more thorough study of ou
country's defenses.
Speaking of national defense, th'
Bureau of Mines revealed today tina
the Nations production of strategi
minerals is seriously inadequate from
the standpoint of national defense.
The list included tin, manganese
chromium, tungsten and aluminium
and Congress has already authorizes
the building up of a reserve of sucl
essentials.
Because of the Bureaus report com
ing at time like this, feel that
should be given in detail SO / quote:
Despite the costly experiences of tn
World War, the industrial prepared
ness program of the United States still
contains a weakness by reason of it
failure to provide adequate supplies o
our deficient minerals for use in time O
stress
The United States is no longer de
pendent on foreign sources for nitrate
potash and platinum, and domestic pro
duction of a few other commoditie
has been expanded. On the other hand
exhaustion of higher grade ore bodies
as in the case of mercury, and the tire
mendous increase of the use of sue
eSsetial metals as tin, manganese
chromium, tungsten and aluminium ha
increased our dependence on foreig