Evening star., 1940-02-26

u.icoiioltionaI form an integral part
OF our commercial policy. It was in
recognition of these same facts that
the principle was included in the
Trade Agreements Act and has been
applied IN the carrying out Of the
trade-asreements program.
Receives Assurances Of
Favored-N Nation Treatment.
When We grant most-favored.na.
ton treatment to the country with
which we conclude q trade aeree-
ment, we receive in return an as
surance OF similar treatment. When
we extend to other countries the
benefit Of the duty adjustments
made IN a particular agreement. we
do so on explicit condition that these
other countries give our trade sub
stantially the same type of treat.
ment. We reserve the right to with
hold or withdraw these benefits from
countries which do not give our trade
such treatment. The result 50 far
mas been that the volume of our
export thus safeguarded from seri-
Gus discrimination has been several
times greater than the value of our
imports on which we have general-
lied concessions made in the trade
agreements.
Had We neglected to provide for
our trade the safeguards against
adverse determinations abroad.
which can be effectively assured
only through the use Of the rule of
equality under the most-favored-na-
ton principle. had we failed to do
everything in our power to strength
en- this necessary means of promot-
ing the increase of world trade. criti-
cism directed against us on this score
would have been understandable,
Instead, we are being criticized for
steadfastly insisting upon these
necessary safeguards. abandonment
OF which would subject our COM
merce to the constant danger of
finding itself hopelessly handicapped
In foreign markets.
I come, finally, to this question:
Would our foreign trade and our
national interest be ,helped or hurt
y the Trade xAg1eeinents5 Act were
80 amended that individual agree
ments be made subject to Senate
ratification or congressional ap-
proval?
Judicial opinion is uniform to the
eject that both the delegation of au-
thority Of the kind contained in the
Trade Agreements Act and the prac-
tice OF concluding Executive agree
ments are entirely consonant with
our established constitutional prac.
tice. Over one thousand Executive
agreements on a large variety of
subjects have been concluded in the
course OF our history. It seems emf
nently clear that trade agreements
should not be regarded as treaties
requiring Senate approval. You will
find In the recent hearings Of the
Ways and Means Committee a thor
ough brief on the matter by the legal
adviser Of the State Department, MI.
Hackworth.
Congress Retains Basic
Tariff Policy Control.
In the Trade Agreements Act the
Congress retained-as It should at
all times-definite and basic control
over tariff policy. It carefully pre-
scribed the policy. the methods, and
the limitations of the trade-agree-
ments program and intrusted to the
Executive the duty and responsibility
Of administering and carrying into
effect the provisions of the act. In
proceeding on this basis, the Con-
gress recognized fully that the needs
Of the abnormal and rapidly chang
Ing conditions with which we have
been faced require a means Of
prompt and effective action at a time
when all other important nations
possess such means Of action. Trade
channels today shift or are shifted
more rapidly than ever before. If we
are not In q position to act, with
relative speed and certainty, to pro-
tect our trade opportunities in other
countries and to adjust, as circum-
stances may require, the trade op-
portunities we afford other countries,
our trade viii inevitably be handi-
capped to our own disadvantage,
The experience in connection with
the negotiation Of the 22 agreements
That have been concluded offers an
ample proof that the method we
have pursued has served us well as 4
means of effective action; and that
the authority under the Trade
Agreements Act has been exercised
with caution and moderation and
with strict regard not only to the ma
tional interest, but also to the needs
and problems Of the individual
branches of agriculture and industry
involved.
The result Of the requirements
that individual trade agreements be
made subject to congressional ap-
proval or Senate ratification, under
existing conditions, would be to make
the program entirely unworkahle,
That would inevitably hurt our for
eign trade, and, through trade, our
Nations economic well-being.
We are now in q period when, as
q result Of the new and widespread
wars, the need for means Of prompt
and effective action on the part Of
the Government In the promotion
and defense OF our foreign commerce
Is even more imperative than it has
been hitherto. We are In Z period
III which our economic policies and
action may have q determining In.
duence upon the DEVELOPMENT,
which, after the cessation Of hostile
ties, win shape the future world.
Forecasts Vast Expansion
OF Trade After War.
II We were now to abandon the
program, We would reduce TO prac-
tically nothing the efacacy Of the
existing trade agreements as means
Of safeguarding our exports from the
inroads Of wartime restrictions. The
need for keeping alive the principles
which underlie the trade-asree-
msnts program y crucial nov, during
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