Evening star., 1948-05-12
Letters to The Star
1anges in Washington Regretted

Chances in Washington Regretted
To the Editor Of The Star:
am not an "oldster" or "old- timer" as one
might be called, but only 81 years OF age. How
ever. am a native Washingtonian, as were
both of my parents and a grandparent the
other three grandparents having lived here
from childhood Thus, am Washngtonian
of three generations and believe that am as
attached to Washington and its many old land
marks and quaint buildings as would be ana
are the old timers. 1t Is q painful Slgnt, IN
deed, to witness the passing OF SO many OF our
old buildings Some say these "hre traps ana
"eyesores" should make way for modern I'M
provements But II these modern improve
ments" are to look like the ones already
erected, then prefer the old buildings tney
have replaced. The new and "streamlined
structure at the northeast corner OF Connec-
tic,lte avenue and M street (Rhode Island ave-
nue) is certainly an example OF monstrosity
and an eyesore. There are many others IKE
it.
Recently, while going down Connecticut ave-
nue. was surprised to notice that the GRAFTON
Hotel is in the process OF being razeo. IL
seems that If hotels and apartment buildings
are not being demolished. they are being con-
yerted into office space. The question Is:
live or another place In which to work?
Not far from the Grafton Hotel, I notice
many other old landmarks making way Tor
others-St. AIMS Infant Asylum at Washing
ton Circle, the Letter Mansion at Dupont Circle
and a large mansion at the southeast corner
of 22nd and @ streets NV. One interesting
fact about the Letter Mansion is that the older
Letter home still stands, OUTLYING its success
sor, the original being the Blaine Mansion al
1000 Massachusetts, avenue. Lew q. Letter.
Marshall Fields partner, resided In the Blaine
Mansion while his Dupont Circle home was oe-
ing erected Another part-time occupant OF
the Blaine Mansion was George Westlng-
house.
It seems shameful that Temple Heights Will
become another example Of the modern eye
sores, when such site would be most peauti-
full as park, site for an attractive library
building or other formal public structure, in
stead of stores and parking lots.
Let there be the progress necessary to carry
us on to better living, but not at the sacrifice
Of all of our dignified atmosphere and its COM
ponent parts Think of how long 1t will take
before Nature can replace the tall and beautl-
full trees at the Dupont Circle "blunderpass
Perhaps an investigation would show that
MANY of those who were instrumental In these
changes really are not Washingtonians.
ROBERT EMMETT BURKE.
Alternative to Trade Agreements
To the Editor Of The Star:
The current controversy over the TRADE
Agreements Program revolves around q point
which needs clari1cation-the relation OF the
program to the Economic Cooperation ADMIN
istration program for Europe.
Those who contend that the program Is
| essential to implement ECA urge one or both
of the propositions that to end the program
would be to violate our commitment to assist
the European nations to recover, and that
unless we further lower our tariffs European
nations will be unable to pay for United States
assistance
At the Geneva Conference last year the
United States slashed its tariffs to the lowest
point in a century, and every European nation,
bv reason of our so-called most-favored- nation
treatment gets the benefit of those reductions
whether or not it has an agreement with the
United States. Furthermore, even II the TRADE
Agreements Act were to be allowed TO expire
on June IL, all Of the agreements now In 1orce
+ will continue forever unless some dennlte ac-
ton to terminate them is taken. All countries
will have the benefit of the lowered rates
therein unless the escape clauses are invoked
for certain commodities or the concessions
specifically withdrawn from some country oy
Presidential proclamation.
The insistence of the British Empire coun-
tries in preserving their discriminatory prefer
ential tariffs, and the devaluation OF their
national currencies by italy and France are
measures undoubtedly necessary TO safeguard
the economic position of those groups How
ever. they do tend to offset the mutually OF
any concessions made by them to the United
States and it would seem hardly equitable Tor
them to expect us to make further concessions
to them.
Furthermore, ECA does not require that
European countries enter into agreements with
the United States to reduce tariffs, but only
that they agree to reduce barriers to trade
wherever possible. This would seem to refer
particularly to barriers among themselves,
which in the form of quotas licensing. state
trading and blocked currencies have a crippling
effect on international trade which tariffs have
never had and never could have.
Further Cuts Opposed.
As to the question Of cutting our tarins
further so as to permit increased imports from
Europe as a means of balancing their trade
with us, it is submitted that ii all tariffs were
eliminated the value Of imports would not
rise to o point even approaching the extraordi-
nary imbalance now existing. Last year We
had exports valued at $14 500, co., 900 and I'M
ports of s5,7000oO.00o. OF these imports,
approximately so per cent, or $3.40o 100000,
came in duty free, and 20 must have been
the maximum in that category which the
United States could accommodate. Hence only
the dutiable imports, valued ct s2,3oo. go oooo-