Evening star., 1946-09-03

OF the MOscOtD radio report ON
Russin's reply to the United
States note on the Russian
| StDedish trade agreement:
On August 80 Acting Secretary of
State Dean Acheson said the United
States Government expressed its un-
easiness about the influence which
long term bilateral state agreements
have on all-around development Of
| trade.
On the basis Of information re-
ceived from the U. S. S. r. Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Tass, the Soviet
telegraph agency. can make public
the following:
On August II, on instructions of
his Government, United States
Charge d'Affaires Burboll addressed
note to the Soviet government say
ing the Government of the U. S. A.
adheres to policy striving for the
expansion of world trade on an all
around and undiscriminating basis,
as provided for in clause Z of the
treaty of mutual aid which the
United States concluded with the
Soviet government and other coun-
tries. The point of view of the
U. S. A., says the note, with regard
to the methods of conducting such
policy Is expounded in it's pro-
posals on extending world trade and
employment.
To strengthen these proposals, the
note says. the United States Gov
ernment exchanged notes with the
governments of other countries con-
tanning mutual expressions of in
tention to avoid fresh measures
which could do harm to the object
Of the proposed conferences on ques-
lions of trade and employment, sum-
moned in accordance with a resolu-
ton confirmed by the Economic and
Social Council of the United Ma
tions on February 18, 1916.
Whenever the United States Gov
ernment became aware of long term
bilateral trade agreements providing
comparatively large quantities of
goods, then, as the note states, it
expressed to other countries its
point of view with regard to the
influence of such agreements on the
program for extending multilateral
trade.
Results of Agreement Cited.
The note further states that it is
understood the Soviet government
is at present conducting negotia-
tions for a bilateral trade agreement
with Sweden which could remain in
force for five years or more, and
that the quantities provided for
might, in the case of certain prod
uctS, absorb a considerable portion
of exports.
In this connection, the United
States Government wishes to point
out certain results of such an agree
ment. A long-term bilateral trade
agreement of type such as that
being negotiated with Sweden ap-
parently would apportion a definite
quantity of Swedish items of export
for shipment to the Soviet Union
and, in the same way, Soviet items
of export for Sweden, independently
of more favorable commercial pos
sibilities which might subsequently
arise in other countries for pur-
chase are sale OF goods, are provided
for in the agreement.
Predetermination of the question
of the direction OF exports or sources
of imports for prolonged period
of time threatens to freeze trade
within the framework of a bilateral
mold, in this way preventing reali-
zation of possibilities arising from
multilateral trade.
Furthermore, other countries might
be the subject of discrimination in
this regard, as they would not be
able to request and receive the part
of the goods predetermined by
Sweden or the U. S. S. r. for export
or import during the period of the
operation of the agreement.
Discrimination may also arise as
result of the inability of Swedish
firms or the U. S. S. R. to buy or sell
products named in the agreement in
other countries, despite market con-
ditions which could make such sales
or purchases economically desirable,
both for Sweden and the U. S. S. r.
and other countries.
In accordance with its general
policy, the note says in conclusion:
The Government of the United
States informed the government of
Sweden of its point of view regarding
the proposed agreement between
Sweden and the U. S. S. r. It also
wishes to express to the U. S. S. r.
the hope that Russia will not un-
dertake any obligations not in ac-
cordance with the principles ex-
pressed In Article Seven Of the
agreement on mutual aid concluded
between the Government of the