Evening star., 1948-01-31
CHAPTER 8.

Inc NE OF q man IN pollI1cS Is
a series OF conflicts. have had
my full share, but none was longer
drawn out and ut the same time
more successful and important than
the fight for trade agreements.
was 36 years old when, in my
maiden address in Congress, plead
ed for lower tariffs and fewer trade
restrictions. I was 50 years old
when In 1894 we finally won the
fight to reduce them, after our tenn
porary' victory with the Underwood
Act Of 1918. which the World War
badly handicapped and the Repub-
licans promptly tore to pieces after
they came to power In 1921.
When I returned from Montevi-
deo in 1884 found that two things
had happened. First, the President
was favoring . trade agreement pro-
gram. But, diametrically on the
other hand, he had during my ab-
sence appointed George N. Peek to
head q committee to coordinate
foreign trade relations.
Peek had been administrator of
the AAA, disbelieved in tariff reduc-
tions and favored an embargo fence
around the country while the poll
cies Of NRA and AAA were applied.
His theories, II carried out, meant
the death Of the trade agreements
policy. The appointment was made
exactly one month after the crea-
ton of the Executive Committee on
Commercial Policy.
Legislation Sought.
Immediately began working with
the Executive Committee on Com
mercial Policy to draft a trade
agreements bill. I found the COM
mittee unanimous that congression-
al legislation should be sought, di-
recting and authorizing the Presi-
dent to enter into reciprocal trade
agreements. It was generally agreed
that only this type of executive
agreement could succeed. Treaties
which had to be submitted for Sem
ate approval were hopeless If they
contained substantial tariff reduc-
tions.
Over and above the economic side
Of our foreign policy, but closely
tied In with 1t, I believed, hung the
political side. To me it seemed vir-
tually impossible to develop friendly
relations with other nations In the
political sphere as long as we pro-
voked their animosity in the eco
nomic sphere. How could we pro-
mote peace with them while wagine
war on them commercially?
When I returned from Monte.
video I dived in on Congress prepar.
atory to getting trade agreements
legislation offered and passed. BY
the end Of February, 1884, we had
completed our draft of the Trade
Agreements bill. Ironically, our
opponent Peek proved of material
aid to us. The original draft was
too long and complicated. Make the
bill only two or three pages long
and it will stand q better chance, ;
Peek suggested. We followed his
idea. He was right.
The bill passed the House of Rep
resentatives March 20, by a vote o,
274 to Ill. The bill passed the Sen.
ate on June 4, by a vote Of 81 to 80
In both House and Senate we were
aided by the severe reaction of pub.
lie opinion against the Smoot.
Hawley Act.
Long Fight Was Won.
At Oils on the night OF June 1.
watched the President sign oul
bill in the White House. Each
stroke of the pen seemed to write 9
message of gladness on my heart
My fight Of many long years for the
reciprocal trade policy and the low.
ering Of trade barriers was won.
The Trade Agreements Act In
itself was simple. Basically it con-
tanned three main points: Agree
ments could be negotiated without
their having to be submitted to
Congress. Tariffs could be reduced
by as much as one half. but only /,