Evening star., 1947-02-26
Truman Order Fails
To Quiet Republican
Foes Of Trade Pacts
BY the Assoeiofsd Press

BY the Asseeiofsd Press
A move by President Truman
to guard against dumping of
cheap foreign goods in the Amer
ican market failed to quiet Re-
publican congressional critics of
the administrations reciprocal
trade program today.
Even Republican Senators VAN
denberg, of Michigan. and Millikin,
of Colorado, who have been trying
to save the program from drastic
overhaul by Congress, gave only
qualified approval to Mr.. Truman's
executive order that future trade
pacts include insurance against
tariffs too low to protect American
manufacturers.
The White House announcement
yesterday came as a forerunner to a
19-Nation meeting in Geneva in
April to setup an International
Trade Organization under the
United Nations. The Presidents
statement said the order resulted
from suggestions by Senators VAN
denberg and Millikin.
The two Senators asserted in a.
joint statement last night that a
portion of Mr.. Trumans order pro-
viding for escape clauses" to per-
NIT cancellation of tariff concessions
which jeopardize domestic interests
is in accord with their views.
In Desirable Direction.
The Presidents order differs,
however" they added, from our
suggestions that the Tariff Com
mission should have somewhat SINH
lar direct responsibilities to prevent
errors before they occur.
But in the main we count the
Presidents order as highly useful
progress in a desirable direction.
" AS the proposed Geneva nego-
tiations for new world trade orga-
MIA ton, we shall of course reserve
our positions and our judgement |
until the completed agreement is |
submitted for constitutional ap-
proval."
Under the executive order, the
Tariff Commission could hear ap-
peals by producers who felt proposed
low duties would damage them. The
commission would make reccomend-
dations directly to the President,
who would retain final authority to
wipe out damaging concessions.
Just a gesture" commented Sen !
ator Butler, Republican of Nebraska,
Ito make it appear that the admin
stration has made concessions to the
criticism of the trade agreements
program"
Review Will Proceed.
Chairman KnutSon, of the House
Ways and Means Committee told
newsmen his group will go ahead
with complete review of the pro-
gram.
Representative Gearhart, Repub-
lican, of California, described the
move as ''an empty. meaningless
change" which would do nothing
to save the United States from be-
coming dumping ground" for fore
ign goods produced by cheap labor.
The programs severest challeng-
ers conceded, however, that there
is no chance Congress will be able
to do anything about it at this
session.
The reciprocal trade law does not
expire until June, l948. Senator
Taft of Ohio, chairman of the Sen
ate Republican Policy Committee,
already has said he is sure the
President would veto any bill to
change the act. And Senator Taft
conceded there is no prospect of
a two-thirds vote in
House and Senate to override such /
a veto.
Textile Association Protests.
Undersecretary of State Clayton
told a news conference last night |
there are some Republicans and .
some Democrats, too, who won't be ;
satisfied until we return to the old .
log rolling. back-scratching tactics. /
But they don't run the country"
The Rhode Island Textile Asso- !
ciation sent kilograms to all Sem
ators today protesting: /
The emphasis on the escape .
clause is an admission that there
is no present basis of determining |
whether our tariffs are adequate .
or not.
I'VE have been told before and .
may be told again, when it becomes
evident that our tariff rates were
cut too low. that it is politically in
expedient' to withdraw concessions .
that may have been given to foreign
countries >,