Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-26
Weeks Eases Curbs
On u. ). Trade With
European Reds
BY the Associated Press

Commerce Secretary Weeks
today eased restrictions on
United States trade with the
Soviet Union and other Com
munist countries Of Europe, but
he said he doubts there will be
an early increase IN the flow Of
goods across the Iron Curtain.
Commerce DEPARTING n t
sources said Mr.. Weeks order
would reduce by one-third to
one-half the list of goods now
banned from commerce between
the United States and the Red
bloc in Europe. III Be-! IT,
The announcement dealt only
with policy - the Commerce
Department is to make public
later lists OF specific items to be
freed from, embargo. Gag
Follows Stassen Move.
Mr.. Weeks move came a day
after Harold E. Stassen. foreign
aid chief. announced a similar
relaxation of curbs on Red
trade Of friendly nations getting
aid from the United States.
Both officials said existing re-
strictions still stand on trade
with Communist China, North
Korea or the Communist area
of Wet Nam.
And both said the new policy
toward trade with Communist
countries in Europe would not
let slip into the East-W trade
stream anything of significant
military value.
Voicing some skepticism that
his new order would result in
quick stimulation of East West
trade, MIR. Weeks statement
said IAN early increase in the
volume of trade with the Soviet
bloc resulting from this action is
unlikely in view Of the bloc's
aim of self-sufficiency and its
inability to provide desired goods
in exchange for imports"
Effects Of Policy.
Mr.. Weeks said the new policy
would:
/. Shorten the lists Of goods
which will be embargoed from
the United States to European
Soviet bloc countries, and provide
an opportunity for increased
trade in peaceful goods. Can
informed source said the embargo
list now contains about $500
items and would be reduced to
between $50 and 10000
2. Continue the embargo OF
those goods which are of impor-
lance to the military capacity
| of the Soviet bloc.
/ 8. Provide a basis for stricter
and more effective enforcement.
! 4. Remove administrative re-
4 strietions on exports from the
United States to friendly coun-
tries, in order to promote United
States international commerce.
/ S. Maintain without change
the current embargo on all ship
ments from the, United States to
Communist China"
Pressure from West.
Loosening Of United States
restrictions on East-West trade
came after more than a year OF
mounting pressure from friendly
nations in Western Europe. That
pressure increased as United
States economic aid eased Oh
and when Congress took no &C
ton on President Eisenhower's
proposals for lowering United
States tariff barriers.
United States economic aid to
Europe was in part responsible
for the clamor for more trade
with the Communist East. United
States dollars helped build West
ern Europe's productive capacity
back to where it now turns out
exportable SURPRISES.
Another factor-over the past
year Soviet Russia has waged a
campaign for better trade rela-
tons between East and West.
officials here, pointing to
figures indicating declining
rather than rising Soviet ex-
ports to nom Communist ma
tions, have taken the view that
the Russian trade campaign
was basically propaganda.