Evening star., 1940-01-30
Women Ask Congress
To Continue Hull
Trade TreatyProgram
Serves to Protect
Commerce in War and
Aids Peace, Claim
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Spokesmen for three women's Or
ganizations appealed to Congress
today to continue the Hull trade
treaty program as means OF pro-
tecting American trade in a world
at wal and of promoting sane in
ternational trade relations when
peace comes.
Mrs. Frederick Beggs of Wycoff
N. j.. chairman of international re-
lations for the General Federation
of Women's Clubs, told the House
WAYS and Means Committee that
abandonment of the program would
require that the United States try
TO become more economically self
sufficient.
This will involve a greater amount
of Government control of business,
industry and agriculture, thus i'm
perilirg our democratic institu-
tiors." she said This is especially
true Of agriculture
The other organizations support
ing the trade program today were
the National League of Women
Voters and the Women's National
Trade Union League.
Solidarity Held Menaced.
Mrs. Beggs testified that if the
trade treaty act were allowed to
elapse June II it would damage the
efforts of Pan-American nations to
achieve continental solidarity and
stability
AS member of the minority party,
she said, she believed Republicans
would err if they made the policy
an election issue because they would
find many G. O. P. voters sup
porting the trade agreements.
Mrs. Harris T. Baldwin of Wash
ington, first vice president of the
League of Women Voters, testified:
1--WE are convinced that our ma
tional economy will be best served
by retaining the trade program as
an instrument to protect our foreign
trade in a world at war. We are
equally convinced that the best in
terests of the United States will be
served by keeping the program as a
means of promoting sane lnterna-
tional trade relations when wars
abroad end"
Opposes High Tariffs.
Mrs. J. Austin Stone OF Washing
ton, representing the Womens Ma
tional Trade Union League, told the
committee that millions of Amerl-
can industrial and farm workers
were dependent upon foreign mar
kets and could not be protected by
high tariffs. High tariffs do not
mean high wages, she added.
Secretary of State Hull yesterday
described the trade and treaty pro-
gram as a temporary emergency
measure.
Mr.. Hull suggested that the pres
ent program could be succeeded by
a permanent commercial policy
when the worlds emergency sltua-
ton has been sufficiently improved.
He issued a statement yesterday
in response to a letter by Repre-
sentative Woodruff, Republican, OF
Michigan, who had accused him OF
changing his stand on the issue OF
delegating tariff making powers to
the President. In 1929, Mr.. Wood
ruff said, Mr.. Hull opposed such
DELEGATION. but now he is battling
for renewal of the Reciprocal TRADE
Act. which involves delegation.
Secretary Hull acknowledged that
in the 2Os he opposed any f1eXlbll-
itv in tariff making" In that PERIOD
he said. he and others were fight
ing steadily mounting embargoes
and tariff eXcesses."
In the depression that came later
he said, it became apparent that
emergency action was necessary tc
reduce excessive trade barriers.
When the emergency passes, ne
said. Congress and the country car
determine a permanent policy IN the
light of the new conditions.
He said he had no apologies tt
make ito those who did all IN then
power to bring on the excesses anc
the embargoes of the Hawley-Smoo'
policy, with the business collapse
which followed"