Evening star., 1940-02-01
D. c., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY /, 1e4o
Foreign Trade Board
To Handle U. 5. Policy
Urged by Vandenberg
Toriff Agency Would
Be Abolished Under
Proposed Program
BACKGROUND

Proposed Program
BACKGROUND
Administrative authority to
negotiate reciprocal trade agree
ments Without congressional
ratification 1Das extended to June
IL, 1910, by Congress In 1887.
Opposition to lo,D-tari6 aspect OF
agreements manifest last sum-
mer, chiefly in agricultural West.
President Rooseuelt's message to
Congress emphasized need OF
program, as fundamental part OF
foundation OF any toorld peace.
BY the Associated Press.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan proposed today that
Congress abolish the Tariff Com
mission and. create q board Of six
members empowered to coordinate
the foreign commercial and flnan-
cial activities of Government agen-
cies.
Regarded in some quarters as
Republican substitute for the ad-
ministration's reciprocal trade pro-
gram, Senator Vandenberg's bill
would authorize this foreign trade
board to control imports to protect
the domestic economy as well as to
encourage exports through barter
agreements and other methods.
Characterizing the proposal as "a
realistic approach to the realistic
problem of increasing foreign
trade" Senator Vandenberg said the
proposed new agency would be able
to meet the difficulties presented by
blocked" exchange in effect in
some countries as well as other
trade determinations.
I'm effect" he said, "this board
would be prepared to meet fire with
fire when it was presented with
realistic problem in foreign trade"
No Log Rolling
Although the bill made no men,
ton of trade agreements as such.
Senator Vandenberg pointed out
that bilateral treaties, subject to
Senate ratification, could be made.
He emphasized, however, that the
system proposed under the measure
would in no sense provide for a re-
turn of congressional "log rolling"
in the consideration of tariff bills.
Speaking generally" Senator
Vandenberg said, "the bill seeks to
create full protection for American
agriculture, industry and labor in
our relations with other countries
through the establishment of a re-
sponsible and efficient agency to deal
with foreign commercial and finan-
cial activities as distinguished from
the diplomatic and political activi-
ties traditionally conducted by the
State Department"
He said the board would unity ef-
forts now scattered, in one form or
another, through so different bu-
reau and departments of Federal
Government.
This method - suggests an
answer to those who insist that there
is no middle ground between con-
gressional log-rolling' and the Hull
trade agreements program in
practical and effective answer to
the related problems, he added.
In taking over the functions of the
Tariff Commission, the new board
would have the power to raise and
lower tariffs, subject to criteria laid
down by Congress.
Senator Vandenberg said the board
would bring into Government pos
session for the first time accurate
information on transactions IN for
eign exchange, the export or import
of securities, and the export or i'm
port of gold and silver coin, bull
lion and currency.
Such an agency, he asserted, will
be doubly necessary to postwar
periods of readjustment. All Of the
principal nations of the world have
already abandoned most of the
methods previously employed in
world trade. New and radically diff
ferent methods already are in
vogue"
Trade Pacts Praised.
Meanwhile, a representative of the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks told
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee the trade agreements pro-
gram was having beneficial effect
on increased employment" in all in
dustries, including the railroad in
dustry.
mo program can with better rea-
son claim to spread its benefits to
every section of the country and to
every class of workers than this"
said Julius G. Luhrsen, reading a
statement prepared by George M.
Harrison, president of the railway
clerks.
With 10 per cent of railroad en-
ployment dependent on freight
movements, the statement said, lit
is beyond doubt that increased traf-
fic will go far to aid increased en-
ployment. Trade agreements help to
increase traffic both by direct stimu-
lation of exports and imports and by
the resulting improvement in do
mestic traffic"
A Democratic Senator joined two
Republican members of the House
last night in expressing opposition
to renewal of the trade agreements
program in its present form.
Senator Adams, Democrat, of Col
orado, Representative Mundt of
South Dakota and Representative
Angel of Oregon expressed their op-
position in a radio program, under
the auspices of the American Good
Government Society.
my criticism" Senator Adams
said, sis not of those who administer
the law, but of the law itself, which
takes from the elected representa-
tives of the voters their constitu-
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