The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1946-11-28
L is w E E k
-TN
WASHIN GTON

WASHINGTON, D. c. Over in the state de-
partment and indeed in some Republican circles
here in Washington there is deep over what
may happen to foreign trade policy under leader
ship of the Republican party in the 8Oth congress.
And it is conceded that while there may be BIZ
partisan agreement foreign political policy
as it affects the United Nations and kindred organ
zations economic foreign policy rests upon and
is definitely guided by our foreign trade policy.
Wrecking of the present status of foreign trade may
well wreck our political foreign policy.
Nowhere has the disagreement between the
parties been so deep and consistent as on this
subject of foreign trade Republicans have tradition
ally been the high tariff party. Democrats though
few of them any longer advocate free trade for which
the party once Stood still the antiradebarrier
advocates
The last tariff act to pass congress was the
Smoot- Hawley Act of 1880 which raised import
duties to high levels. 1t passed the House by
264 to lat with Democrats voting 134 to 20 against
it and the Republicans 244 to IL for it. In the SEN
ate the COP vote As to for the act and the
Democratic vote 26 to against it.
The first reciprocal trade act passed in 1884
with Republicans voting SO to against it, Demo
Gratis 269 to IL for it. In the Senate the COP vote
% to 5 against and the Democratic vote 81 to
5 for it. Each succeeding three years the act has
been extended in 1887, 1940 1943 and 1945 so that
the present extension expires in 1948. On each of
those votes large majority of Republicans voted
against the act except in 1943, when the question
of unity in war year. In 1887 the total
COP vote in house and senate was 95 to 3 against
extension in 1910 the COP vote 166 to against;
1943 it was 63 to &c for and in 1945 the COP voted
156 to 48 against extension.
AS matter of fact, the reciprocal trade act may
not even survive until its expiration date in 1948.
Rep. Daniel A. Reed (R N. W, second ranking mem
ber on the house ways and means committee, which
handles tariff legislation, introduced bill in the
10th congress to repeal the act outright and request
the President to terminate all outstanding agree
ments under it. And there has been no indication
that Congressman Reed has changed his mind since
sponsoring this legislation and his influence will be
greater in the 80th congress than in the 10th.
And when the state department only recently
nounced plans to begin reciprocal tarde negotiations
with 18 countries next April Sen. Kenneth S.
Wherry (R., Neb.J, COP senate whip declared that
the Republicans would want to study the proposed
tariff reductions before passing judgment.
Under the reciprocal trade act. American tariffs
have been reduced much rs percent some
commodities from the high tariffs set by the Smoo
HaWley Act The last act authorized cuts of much
SO percent under the then existing levels and
although there has been noticeable change in COP
policy, for instance the United Nations, the
World Court, on Breton Woods, UNRRA and other
political ups for foreign policy there apparently
has been decided change the tariff question,
which will have direct bearing our entire for
eign policy.
Since President Truman lberalized his restric-
tons expenditure of federal funds reclamation
construction, the interior department has signed
tracts totang % million dollars affecting five pro-
jectS in the Columbia River Basin, Central Valley
in California Colorado-Big Thompson in Colorado,
DeSchutes in Oregon and Tucumcari in New Mexico.
More than Is of the % million will be spent in the
Columbia River basin project