Evening star., 1950-06-04

In MS gtate-Ol the Union
Truman may make . declaratio
to the economic life Of the Unite
than his point-four program and
What that declaration may
basis Of what Gordon Gray and
are now seeking q course for the
Nation to follow when the Mar
shall Plan program ends in 1852
That the President will take his
state-of-the-Nation message a.
the occasion for recommending O
course of action is conjectural. but
logical.
What Mr.. Gray will report te
the President also is conjectural
But in view Of the policy Of the
administration TO press for i'm
ports from Europe to close the
dollar gap which is hampering
those countries. it likewise is logi-
cal that Mr.. Gray's report will
stress the need of buying from
our customers abroad.
It is to our interest to help
European Allies become economi-
cally strong. The Marshall Plar
was devised to that end. The
objective will remain after the
Marshall Plan is concluded. There
is no doubt that the need for oui
cooperation also will carry over
Tariff Problem Ahead
II Mr.. Gray is to recommend
more freedom of trade with ouI
European Allies with the idea oi
accepting more OF their products
and many observers believe he will
do so-it would appear that IL
would be coupled likely with q
recommendation to remove trade
barriers.
These barriers are on both side,
Of international trade. On our
side there are tariffs and customs
procedures.
We are still regarded in some
quarters as a high-tariff country
but many tariffs have been re-
duced under the reciprocal trade
agreements and the State Depart
ment recently gave notice 1t
wants to negotiate new rates on
about $500 additional items.
Our customs procedures have
been criticized as imposing even
greater obstacles to imports than
tariffs. The Customs Bureau al
ready has achieved considerable
simplification by modifying its
regulations and a bill is pending
In Congress to do more.
These efforts to smooth the way
for imports have not been with
out vigorous-frequently strenu-
ous-opposition. A project to
smooth the way for the entry Of
foreign goods Is not to be UNDER
taken lightly. But, based on past
performance, II Mr.. Gray believes
in a certain course of action he
is not to be deferred by any dis
position to avoid controversy.
Not so long ago there was a
Gray report which set a good
many politicians and National
Guard officers after his scalp. In
August, l94S, a six-man commit
tee OF the armed services which
he headed-it was known as the
Gray Board-recommended that
the National Guard be removed
from State to Federal control.
That recommendation has not
been effected-yet. But Just as
the unification of the services re-
suited from the logic of the case
and the bleak experiences Of the
war. SO the substitution of one
control for more than 48 controls
of the National Guard can be ex-
pected ultimately,
One More Job
The Gray Board episode oc-
Cured while Mr.. Gray was Assist
ant Secretary of the Army. When
Kenneth c. Royal resigned as
Army Secretary in June, 1349,
Mr.. Gray succeeded him.
Last February Mr.. Gray was
elected president Of the Univer-
sity Of North Carolina. from which
he had been graduated In 1880.
1t was reliably reported that Mr..
Truman wanted him to head the
Atomic Energy Commission. but
that Mr.. Gray's commitment to
the university blocked that. At
any rate, Mr.. Truman laid claim
to his services for one more job
before he assumes the university
presidency at the end Of the
summer.
The White House announced
early in April that Mr.. Gray
would undertake to find out how
to build foreign buying power by
pointing the way to:
l. Increased foreign exports to
the United States in the form OF
merchandise.
Q. Increased foreign services
such as shipping. insurance and
tourist rartinnS