Evening star., 1946-10-10

tEaIuC OH .COGAl GQuallty Will tIlC
vessels OF the United States and
Canada.
In q word, Mr.. President, 1t seems
to the American delegation that If
we intend that the Danube shall
resume the freedoms heretofore
established, and shall develop in
peace and progress, this conference
must say 50 now. It is our only
chance. We shall not collide with
any Danubisn aspirations unless
these aspirations collide with these
freedoms. In such an event 1t is
doubly necessary that we should
anticipate the protective contract
now.
Approval Of Article "a Asked.
For these reasons, the United
States delegation-for the sake of
present urgent necessities in the
zones Of military occupation, and
for the larger cause Of permanent
peace and progress the United
States delegation earnestly urges
the Conference to convincingly ap-
prove Article "a in this Romanian
treaty.
We urge also that the Confer
ence adopt those provisions of Ar
ticle 80 Of the treaty, dealing with
general economic relations.
The commission has recon-
mended that, for limited period
after the treaty comes into force,
Romania should be required to ex-
tend nondiscriminatory treatment
to the trade and business activities
Of those United Nations which re-
|ciprocally extend similar treatment
to Romania. This undertaking
should provide the basis for the re-
sumption Of economic relations be-
tween Romania and the United
Nations, pending the conclusion Of
new commercial treaties and agree
ments, to the mutual advantage Of
Romanla and the United Nations,
and in the promotion of progress
and peace.
One clause relates to exceptions
customarily made from most-fav-
ored-nation treatment. The Ian
guage proposed by the majority Of
the commission would permit these
exceptions which were customarily
included in Romania's prewar COM
mercial treaties but would not allow
the introduction of new exceptions
or preferences during the 18-month
period when this article will apply.
An alternative provision supported
by minority of the commission
would permit new, wide preferences
to neighboring countries.
Various arguments have been
brought forward in the commission
in support of the minority proposal.
Most Of them have sought to justify
this new preference for neighborng
states on the basis of preferences
which have previously been estab-
lished in special situations. many
of which (like those involving the
United States) are in the process OF
being reduced and eliminated.
It has also been argued that. for
some reason which Is not clear to
the American delegation, neighbor-
ing states must be free to grant
preferences to each other in the
interest of their economic recon-
struction. It seems to us obvious
that, in the very nature of things,
neighboring states enjoy a prefer
entail position in each others trade
as a result of their geographical
propinquity and the advantages 1t
confers with regard to cheapness OF
transport costs, speed OF communi-
cations and other similar factors.
Committed to Trade Expansion.
We fail to see why it is necessary
to add to these natural advantages
by providing for new discriminatory
barriers against other countries
which have carried the burden Of
this war and to whom the recovery
of international trade is important
in the reconstruction of their
economics.
All of the governments here rep
resented are committed to an en-
deavor to expand international trade
on a nondiscriminatory basis to the
mutual benefit of the peoples We
represent. We feel that it would be
singularly inappropriate and un-
timely for this conference to go on
record as favoring new preferences,
new hurdles and new barriers. We
call on the Conference to indorse
the economic provisions of the At
lantic Charter, to which we have all
subscribed, and to seek the adher-
ence of Romania to the principles
through the treaty provisions.
Finally, the Conference is called to
pass upon provisions regarding civil
aviation. The proposal of the ma
jority of the commission would ex-
cept civil aviation from the treaty
provisions requiring national treat
Iment and would commit Romania,
during the 18 months Article 80 Will
remain in effect, to follow the rule
of nondiscrimination in the bilateral
civil aviation agreements. 1t is dif-
ficult for us to see how there can be
objection to such simple and fair
provisions. An additional provision,
proposed by the majority OF the COM
mission, would require Romania to
extend the so-called first two free
doms (those of transit and technical,
or noncommercial. landings) to any
United Nation which grants these
freedoms to Romania.
In sum, Mr.. President, the pro-
posals with which we are confronted
relating to the Danube and to eco
nomic relations involve the ques-
ton of whether we are to take q
backward step by agreeing that
Romania, after emerging from her
war of aggression, is to be free to
discriminate against the United
Nations, or whether we will call
upon her to deal with the United
Nations on basis of fair play and
nondiscrimination.
The United States feels that no
delegation in this conference should
have difdculty in making this
choice. ..
Rubber Controls to End