Evening star., 1946-11-10
Truman Ends Wage, Price Curbs
Except on Rents> Sugar and Rice;
u. S. Acts to Spur World Trade
Turiff-Cut Pdcts
With 18 Of Key
Nations Sought
By Gornett D. Homer

by 0ofnett ". I1olheI
The State Department last
night announced it's intention of
seeking specific tariff reducing
agreements with Is key coun-
tries. 1t asserted its confidence
that the new Republican Con-
gress will not change American
policy of seeking to reduce world
trade barriers.
The largest reciprocal trade agree
ment' negotiations ever undertaken
will be the subject of conference
next spring, it was revealed by
Undersecretary of State William L.
Clayton.
President Truman called upon the
people for ''full support
and encouragement of the nego-
tiations in a statement accompany
ing the announcement.
Price of Failure.
"Their success or failure" the
President said of the negotiations,
will largely determine whether the
world will move toward system
of liberal international trade, free
from arbitrary barriers, excessive
tariffs, and determinations. or will
pay the heavy costs of narrow eco
nomic nationalism.
Agreements providing for recipro-
cal reduction of tariffs and elimina-
ton of other trade barriers will be
sought in the negotiations with Aus
tralia, Belgium, Brazil Canada,
Chile, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia,
France, India, Lebanon, Luxem-
bourg, the Netherlands, New Zea-
laid, Norway. the Union of South
Africa, the Soviet Union and Great
These 13 countries, the State
said. account for about
two-thirds of United States exports
and imports.
The announcement said the actual
probably" will begin
next April, following public hear
ings to start here January 13.
Although Russia is among the
countries with which the State De-
partment announced intention to
negotiate for new trade agreements
Mr.. Clayton said Moscow has not
yet accepted an invitation to par
ticipate. He said he still hopes.
however. that the Soviet will join
in the negotiations.
Will Consider Lower Duties.
The State Department released a
list of scores of items on which re-
ductions on import duties into this
country will be considered in connec-
ton with the negotiations. These
include cattle, poultry. milk. butter,
cheese, leather, furs, vegetables and
fruits, sugar, rubber, cotton and wool
cloth. lumber, paper, and glass and
china products.
The text of the Presidents state
ment follows:
THE Acting Secretary of State has
today formally announced the in
tention, of this Government to enter
into concerted trade agreement ne
sotiations with 18 other principal and
representative trading nations for
the reciprocal reduction of trade
barriers and substantial elimination
Of trade determinations among the
participating.
1T is important that the people of
the United States realize the true
of these negotiations,
for us and for the world. They are
not solely trade bargains They are
that, but they are much more. They
are central to the structure of in
economic cooperation
under the United Nations. They are
necessary to achieve the objectives
of the Atlantic Charter and Of Ar
ticle VII of our mutual aid agree
ments. They are necessary to
and support the founda-
tons of the International Monetary
Fund and the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development
and to pave the way for the kind
of economic world envisaged in the
suggested charter for an interna-
tional trade organization.
Committee Discussing Charter.
"The substance of the suggested
charter is now being discussed in
London by a committee Of nations
designated by the Economic and So
cial Council to prepare for an inter-
national conference on trade and
employment and for the establish
ment of an international trade or
ganizatiorl. The subsequent trade
agreement negotiations announced
today will carry forward these gen.
eral principles and objectives by
concrete and specific action to clear
the channels of trade, replacing
trade warfare by trade cooperation
to the common benefit of all coun-
tries. Their success or failure viii
largely determine whether the world
will move towards a system of lib
eral international trade, free from
arbitrary barriers, excessive tariffs
and determinations, or will pay the
heavy costs of narrow economic ma