Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
Trade and the Republicans

night Eric Johnston, a distinguished
Republican, called upon his party to
come out Fundamentally in favor of
reciprocal trade. His plea could not
have been more timely or pertinent.
Involved in it is great doubt bear
ing directly on the future course and
effectiveness of American foreign
policy.
AS Nation we have today gen.
uine bipartisan foreign policy on
political matters. But when it comes
to economic matterS-Which are part
of the bone and Sinew of any foreign
policy-there is a large element of
uncertainty. The reason for this is
that except for the year 1943 the
Republicans in Congress have voted
overwhelmingly against the periodic
renewals of the Hull Trade Agree
ments Act. Moreover, now that the
party is in control, several of its in
fiuential members-such as Senator
Butler of Nebraska-seem eager to
kill off the reciprocity program and
get back to an era of high tariffs.
There is ample evidence, of course,
that the great majority of Ameri-
cans, including Republicans, favor
reciprocal trade, and they have good
reason to feel that way. Under it, by
tariff cuts worked out on a careful
quid-pro-quo basis, we seek mutually
beneficial business with other coun-
tries. In the long-range view, al
though 1t is only one of the steps
required to deal with the extremely
complex export-import problem, this
reciprocity is designed to promote
better living standards everywhere
Looking at it narrowly, since we are
the worlds greatest creditors, since
we have over so per cent of the
worlds productive capacity, and
since that capacity increased by at
least half during the war, we need
this program to help expand foreign
markets for ourselves. But we can
not expand them unless other ma
tons can sell to us in order to buy
from us or are otherwise able to get
dollars. Beyond that, and more
important, Is the fact that reciprocal
trade is aimed at ending the eco
nomic stoppages and frictions that
lead to unemployment, cutthroat
competition, autarchy and war.
Despite assurances from Senator
Vandenberg and other like minded
Republicans, the views expressed by
men like Senator Butler are dis
turbing. When coupled with the
party's past record on this subject,
they at least suggest that the reci-
procity program may be headed for
real trouble in Congress. At any
rate, the doubt is there, and it has
an unwelcome effect. For one thing,
it throws shadow on the authority
of the American delegation sched-
uled to take part in the American
inspired international trade confer
ence to be held in April. For another
thing, until this doubt is cleared
away, the real nature and direction
of our bipartisan foreign policy will
be open to question.
In the long run, after all, a foreign
policy cannot be effective if it is not
politically and economically inte-
grated. AS Mr.. Johnston has put it,
You can't have political co-opera-
ton without economic cooperation"
We have bipartisan agreement on
the political idea of world collabora-
ton for good and lasting peace.
But unless we have bipartisan agree
ment on the implementing economic
measures as well, then our foreign
policy as whole will be at war with
itself.
All doubts on this score should be
settled as soon as possible. Mr..
Johnston regards the question as
the supreme issue" confronting his
party. Certainly he is not exagger-
ating when he warns that a return
to the outmoded high protective
tariff system would sow ''whirl-
wind of economic disasters" through
out the world.