FIGHTING SLUMP.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 11

FIGHTING SLUMP.

MORE SUGGESTIONS FROM AMERICA. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROPOSALS. (trmtiD ritzss association —sr electkic TZLEGEAPK —COPIEIGHT.) WASHINGTON, April 10. A programme for international action to promote trade, including a recommendation to exchange war debt moratoria in appropriate cases for disarmament and markets abroad for United States goods, has been framed by the United States Chamber of Commerce, to end economic nationalism. The chamber advises caution regarding Senator Cordell Hull's proposal for a general lowering of tariffs. The chamber asks that the American delegates to the World Economic Conference hold fast to the principle of reasonable protection, with safeguarding provisions to meet unfair competition and the effects of depreciated currencies. It suggests the establishment generally of scientific tariff-rate-making processes, removed from purely political considerations. BASIS FOR WORLD CONFERENCE. INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER'S PLAN. PARIS, April 10. On behalf of 47 countries tha Council of the International Chamber of Commerce has prepared & plan containing 14 points for presentation to the World Economic Conference, in the hope of assisting to overcome the world crisis. The chief suggestions are:— The removal of the problem of political debts. The creation of an international monetary standard preliminary to the restoration of a free gold standard. Government action to deal with exchange stability. Balanced budgets. Reduced tariffs. The payment of debts in goods and services.

The avoidance of inflation. Agreements to overcome over-pro-duction. All Governments to co-operate in a campaign to increase the prices of primary products.

DISCUSSIONS AT WASHINGTON. SILVER AND WHEAT TO BE SUBJECTS. | WASHINGTON, April 10. Senator Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) indicated to-day that among the subjects to be discussed during the Washington conversations are the restoration of the price of silver and the control of wheat surpluses. Senator Hull said the question of developing new and enlarged industrial uses for silver is emphasised in the World Economic Conference programme as wortHy of careful consideration. The , possible improvement of methods of marketing the metal by producers and currency authorities will also be considered. Other possibilities are the increased use of silver as coins by the principal nations, and the purchase by the leading countries now on the gold standard, or desiring to return to it, of a stipulated amount of silver for addition to the reserves of the central banks. SCOPE OP CONVERSATIONS. MR MACDONALD'S STATEMENT. i , (EBITIBH OFFICIAL WIBXLXSS.) RUGBY, April tO. The Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay Mac Donald) informed the Houfe of Commons that he intended to set no limit to the subjects mentioned in the course of the conversations between the United States President and himself. The object of his visit to Washington was not to negotiate agreements, but to discuss questions with which both nations were confronted.