AT WHITE HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 16, 20 January 1933, Page 7

AT WHITE HOUSE.

ANOTHER MEETING. Hoover and Roosevelt to Talk Over Current Problems. WAR DEBT PARLEY 1 (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 19. The brief announcement yesterday morning that the President, Mr. Hoover, had invited the Presidentelect, Mr. Roosevelt, to visit him on Friday morning, and the news from New York that the invitation had been accepted, have aroused a flood of speculation as to important impending developments in foreign affairs, both as regards war debts and' the crisis in the Far East.

It is revealed that the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, arranged the meeting. Apparently he considers that to maintain a co-operative foreign policy from the present Administration into the next is imperative.

In best-informed circles the opinion is expressed that war debts are the primary cause of the conference, although that matter is closely linked with the World Economic Conference, in regard to which it is believed Mr. Hoover wants a further elucidation of Mr. Roosevelt's views, particularly regarding the time it should be called.

It is known that Mr. Hoover considers the stabilisation of the pound sterling of primary importance, although according to dispatches British opinion favours holding it in abeyance pending a revision of war debts. This fundamental difference of opinion, therefore, may develo.p into the cause of a serious stalemate.

The conference is to be held in White House at 11 a.m. on Friday. Both Mr. Hoover and Mr. Roosevelt will have several advisers. What will be said on the Manchurian situation, if anything, is in no way intimated. It is pointed out, however, that Mr. Roosevelt already has reiterated the policy of the present Administration and he is not likely to take up a stroi.ger position this time.

There is no official or other reaction to Press reports from Geneva yesterday to the effect that charges will be brought against Japan alleging the fortification of her Pacific Island mandates —Caroline and Marshall groups—contrary to the treaty, although these are considered to be strategic points as they lie between the Philippines and Hawaii.

"BUY AMERICAN." U.S. Official Controversy Over Principle. EFFECT ON -FOREIGN TRADE. ;:i; V ,Li lilf!WASHINGTON, January 19. Simultaneously with the announcement by the Secretary of Commerce, Mr. R. Chapin, that United States foreign trade in 1932, valued at 2,940,000,000 dollars was the lowest valuation on record since 1905, the solicitor to the Department of Commerce, Mr. Morgan, states that the Government is not justified in lending its official support to the "buy American" movement. This is being carried out by various organisations .to combat similar nationalistic movements by other nations, particularly Britain.

The solicitor's statement was made in reply to a letter from the American Ceramic Society, one of the leading organisations in the movement. He added that while the Department was not opposed to the movement, the division of interests prevented universal support or adoption of the principle. Mr. Chapin quoted the fact that although the 1932 exports totalled 1,617,000,000 dollars —a decline of 707,000 dollars—they had provided direct employment for 2,000,000 American workmen. "We must keep what we have and continue to strive to develop our foreign trade," said Mr. Chapin. His statement is considered significant in view of the "buy American" agitation.