U.S. TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 11

U.S. TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

Mr Brace's Visit To Washington

IMPORTANT CONFERENCES WITH OFFICIALS

iTTwrcxo vxasa association—coptbjmt.) ! (Received December 20, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 19. The Australian Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce) attended a luncheon given by the Assistant-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles), at which he met the highest officials connected with trade and finance, including the Secretary for Agriculture (Mr H. A. Wallace) and the Secretary for Commerce (Mr D. C. Roper), the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board (Mr Marriner Eccles) and nearly all the key figures in the tariff* and trade agreements section of the State Department, headed by the Director of Trade Pacts (Mr F. B. Sayre). Mr Bruce was supported by his adviser, Mr F. L. McDougall, the Australian Trade Commissioner in Canada (Mr L. R. MacGregor), and other officers.

Observers regarded the luncheon as a tribute to the high regard in which Mr Bruce is personally held and symbolic of the friendliness towards Australia as well as the basic good intention of the United States to negotiate a trade treaty. Mr Bruce, however, came to grips with his real business in Washington through private conferences with Mr Sayre and Mr Wallace. The meeting with Mr Wallace is con-1 sidered the most significant since it is believed he personifies the opposition of the agricultural leaders to a treaty with Australia. In an interview after the conference, Mr Bruce admitted that the opposition of the agricultural leaders to a reduction of the duty on Australian products was a major difficulty. He emphasised, however, that this had long been recognised. "Generally," he added. "I find a friendly disposition regarding the treaty among the United States officials, but naturally some difficulties are involved. I have not finished the conversations and therefore I am unable to comment on what has transpired." Mr Bruce said he had discussed the project for an international wheat conference. All the nations seemed interested, but none had yet committed itself regarding the amount of the restrictions it would adopt. ____________