Evening star., 1942-05-27
u. ). Believed Seeking
Fair-Trade Pledge in
Soviet Aid DEALINGS
Agreement Similar to
Brituin's Envisioned for
Postwar World
BY GARRETT ID. HORNER.

BY GARNETT ID. HORNER.
The United States today was
seeking a new lease-lend Agreements
with Russia which presumably would
pledge the Soviet Union 10. co-op-
Grafton In establishing American
fair trade principles as the basis OF
the postwar world economic system.
Proposals made by this Govern
ment were believed to call for Rus
sia to join the United States, Greas
Britain and other United Nations
in undertaking action after the war
directed toward:
/. Worldwide expansion Of pro-
duction, employment and the con-
sumption and exchange OF goods.
2. Elimination Of all forms Of dis.
criminatory treatment in inferno.
tional commerce.
3. Reduction Of tariff and other
trade barriers.
Supported by Britain
These objectives already have been
agreed upon by this country and
Great Britain in a pact signed laa
February, which included provision
for participation by AL other coun-
tries of like mind" The British
agreement is being taken as moda
in working out lease-lend arrange
ments with the Soviet and othes
Allied nations.
Secretary of State Hull submitted
a draft of the proposed agreement
with Russia to Soviet Ambassador
Maxim Litvinoff yesterday, It was
learned, after they had conferred
for more than half an hour at the
State Department. Mr.. Lttvinoh
told reporters the Secretary had
handed him a document for con-
sideration, but declined to discuss
its contents.
President Roosevelt said at press
conference later that the proposal
to Russia followed the same gen.
eral idea Of the British agreement
representing an effort to put lease
lend arrangements with the Soviet
on the same basis as they are with
other nations.
May Avoid Full Payment
Lease-lend assistance now is be-
ing extended to the Soviet on ths
basis Of an agreement reached last
fall through an exchange Of letters
between President Roosevelt and
Premier Joseph Stain. providing for
credits up to s1,000,000, 900 with re-
payment to be made over l0-year
period beginning five years after tbs
war.
II appeared possible that II Rus
sia accepts this Governments pres
ent proposals, she may not be called
upon for full repayment in view of
the reciprocal service she now Is
rendering this country by her fight
against Germany.
The agreement with Britain out
lines the fundamental principles
which are to govern postwar settle
ment of lease-lend obligations, stat
ing that final determination OF ths
terms and conditions" must be de-
ferred until events" make clearer
what precise methods will best servs
mutual interests and promote main
tenance of world peace"
Terms Of the final settlement. IL
Is stipulated, must "be such as not
to burden commerce but rather 70
promote "betterment of Worldwide
economic relations" and attainment
Of the economic objectives OF ths
Atlantic Charter.
Would Further U. S. Aim.
Each country agrees to contribute
whatever it is in position to supply
to the defense of the other. with the
final settlement to take full account
Of all reciprocal benefits" and to
undertake early conversations to de-
termine the best methods of attain
ing the stipulated fair trade objec-
tives.
Russian acceptance Of a similar
agreement. it was pointed out in
informed quarters, would be a step
of vital importance toward postwar
| establishment of the type of inter-
| national economic system which
this Government long has advocated
as necessary to maintenance OF
peace.
The fact that the United States
is seeking to make such agreement
on postwar economic policies q
part Of its lease lend arrangements
indicates the persistence of Secre-
tary of State Hull, whose campaign
to win worldwide acceptance Of
the fair trade principles involved
through his reciprocal trade agree
ments program was interrupted by
outbreak of the present war.
Russia previously has followed
nationalistic trade policies, gener-
ally steering clear of the type Of
multi-lateral cooperative arrange
ments envisioned by the Hull pro-
gram.
Her commerce has been conducted
more on the barter principle, with
no ban on discriminatory treatment
where such might be to her ad-
| VANTAGE