Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-17
| etters to / he Star

was placed IN the Congressional Record
by Senator Hunt IN the form Of
statement that made its contents seem
to be based on information from the
Department Of Defense A press re-
lease covering the statement was then
issued in the name of the American
Watch Association, and It Is interesting
to note that this release came from the
Office Of the public relations Arm
which represents the watch trust in
SwitZerland-not the firm which re-
presents the American Watch Associa-
ton.
The material was so completely mis-
leading that was sure Senator Hunt
was not aware of the real facts. !
therefore went to see him, with two
representatives Of one Of the jeweled
watch companies. Senator Hunt told
US that the prepared statement had
been given to him by Mr.. Tydings, and
that he had placed 1t In the Congress
sional Record at Mr.. Tydings' request
not knowing himself that it contained
highly controversial matter. Senator
Hunt also told US he did not know of
the press release covering his state
ment issued In the name Of the Ameri-
can Watch Association.
Thus. the extremely misleading state-
ments prepared initially by the import
ers' trade association, at the request of
MFR. Tydings. has been used successfully
through the American Watch Assccia-
ton, Senator Hunt. the Swiss watch
trust, and now over the name of the
Committee for National Trade Policy
The arguments advanced by Mr. Taft
Iaan
they have been when coming from tine
importers or the Swiss. He ventures
that the domestic jeweled watch indus
try is probably suffering only from the
general decline in watch sales that has
occurred since January. 1854. The fact
is that the domestic companies suffered
decline Of production from 3.161 900
in 1851 to 2,237 900 in 1853, or about
80 per cent in two years. while Swiss
imports increased from 9,l28,00 to
10.615.00O. At the end Of 1853 the
Swiss had 83 per cent OF the domestic
jeweled watch market and the domestic
industry had II per cent. In, 1854 the
domestic industry's production has
been cut back severely and the Swiss
will move closer toward complete
monopoly Of the United States market.
Mr.. Taft. like Mr.. Tydings. finds no
national defense danger In this Situa-
ton because he can see no defense i'm
portance in the watch industry. The
persistence Of the importers in this
position indicates startling case of
myopia.
Very recently Arthur Flemming, Di-
rector Of the ONCE Of Defense Mobil-
ization: Thomas Pike. Assistant Secre-
tary Of Defense, and Lothian Teetor,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
testified publicly that the jeweled
watch industry, and, indeed, the horo-
logical industry as q whole. was abSo-
luteIy essential to national defense.
These statements, made after months
Of study by the respective agencies, are
completely ignored in favor Of dis
credited material Of the importers own
making. This is q classic illustration
of the old saying that there are none
$50 blind as those who will not see."
It seems to us that the time for such
trifling and obfuscation is past. AS
your editorial indicated, this is seri-
Gus issue that ought to be faced
Squarely on the facts. It appears that
the Government is trying to do just
that, and the repeated efforts of the
importers and the Swiss to confuse the
picture are rapidly approaching the
status of national disservice.
Paul F. Mickey,
Vice President, American Watch Manu-
facturers, Association, Inc.
Charles r. Taft, president. Committee
for a National Trade Policy, questions
your editorial Of July 6, entitled, "The
Tariffs on Watches" Your editorial had
called attention to the seriousness of the
situation brought about by foreign COM
petition with the watch industry If in
duStry allegations are true, because it
takes q long time to train workers with
the necessary precision skills to make
time fuses and similar products in time
Of war when the demand for precision
work greatly expands.
Mr. Taft, in defending offshore pro-
curement of time fuses says: Should
war break out, it is obvious that it is
much wiser to have in operation an am
munition production line in Europe
rather than attempt to supply the am
munition needs of our allies over long,
dangerous, vulnerable pipe line Of
supplies from this country"
To this ] can certainly agree and Mr..
Taft is to be congratulated for recogniz-
ing the danger Of depending upon long.
dangerous, vulnerable pipe lines for
military supplies.
Why then does Mr.. Taft seek to put
us in the position in which he so cor
rectly does not want Europe to be? Is
it all right for us to become dependent
for our military supplies upon long,
dangerous and vulnerable pipe lines?
It seems to me that Mr.. Taft has In
reality Endorsed your sensible editorial.
While he did not intend this, he should
be congratulated for being right even
If he finds himself in that unusual cir
cumstance only by accident.
o. r. Strackbein,
Chairman, The Nationwide Com
mittee of Industry Agriculture
and Labor on Import Export
. Policy.