Evening star., 1947-03-06

cases, In the immediate future, and
to abandon them entirely as soon as
they can.
The trade-agreement negotiations
that will accompany consideration of
the charter, should enable countries
that are now in difaculty to work
their way out Of it BY affording them
reader access to the markets Of the
world. This program is designed to
restore and preserve a trading sys-
tenn that Is consistent with continu-
Ing freedom Of enterprise in every
country that chooses freedom for Its
own economy. It is program that
will serve the interests of other ma
tions as well as those Of the United
States.
II these negotiations are to be
successful, we ourselves must make
the same commitments that we ask
Of all the other nations of the world
We must be prepared to make con-
cessions If we are to obtain con-
cessions from others in return. If
these negotiations should fail, our
hope Of an early restoration Of an
international order in which private
trade can flourish would be lost. /
say again, they must not fail.
Some Are Afraid Of Imports.
The program that we have been
discussing will make our foreign
trade larger than it otherwise would
be. This means that exports will be
larger. It also means that imports
viii be larger. Many people, it is
true, are afraid of imports. They
are afraid because they have as
sulned that we cannot take more
products from abroad unless we pro-
duce just that much less at home.
Fortunately, this Is not the case.
The size Of our market is not for
ever fixed. 1t Is smaller when we
attempt to isolate ourselves from
the other countries of the world. It
Is larger when we have a thriving
foreign trade. Our imports were
down to billion dollars In 1882;
they were up to five billion in 1916.
But no one would contend that 1892
was a better year than 1916 for
selling goods, or making profits, or
finding jobs. Business is poor when
markets are small. Business Is good
when markets are big. It is the
purpose Of the coming negotiations
to lower existing barriers to trade
so that markets. everywhere. NAV
grow.
I said to the Congress, when lit
last considered the extension of the
Trade Agreements Act, and now
reiterate, that domestic interests
win be safeguarded in this process
of expanding trade. But there still
are those who sincerely fear that
the trade agreement negotiations
will prove disastrous to the interests
of particular producing groups. I
am sure that. their misgivings are
not well founded. The situation
briefly is this:
Cd The Reciprocal Trade Agree
ments Act has been on the books
since 1884. It has been admins
tered with painstaking care and
strict impartiality. Some 80 agree
ments with other countries have
been made. And trade has grown,
to the great benefit of our economy.
Won't Eliminate Tariffs.
ca This Government does not
intend, in the coming negotiations,
to eliminate tariffs or establish free
trade. AL that is. contemplated is
the reduction of tariffs, the removal
Of DETERMINATIONS, and the acl1ieve-
ment, not Of free trade, but of freer
trade. ... /.
t3) In the process of negotiations,
tariffs will not be cut across the
board. Action will be ,selectiye;
some rates may be cut substantially,
others moderately, and others not
at all.
a. In return for these concessions,
We shall seek and obtain concessions
from other countries to benefit our
export trade. 's@ s'esk ~
(6 Millions of Americans-on
farms, in factories, on the railroads,
in export and import businesses,
in shipping, aviation, banking and
insurance, in wholesale establish
ments and in retail stores-depend
on foreign trade for some portion
of their livelihood. II we are to
protect the interests of these people
In their investments and their en-