NEW TRADE BODY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 11

NEW TRADE BODY

Opposition From Republicans

(Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 2 Republicans in the House of Representatives overwhelmingly oppose President Eisenhower’s plan to have the United States join an international organisation promoting world trade, the United Press reported today. A secret poll of party members by the House Republican leaders showed that about 100 would vote against legislation for United States membership in the proposed 34-nation Organisation for Trade Co-operation Only about 50 Republican members said they would vote for the bill, it was reported.

This meant the legislation was “dead” because the Democratic leaders have refused to bring the bill to the floor unless they are guaranteed the 100 Republican votes necessary to assure its passage. The proposed organisation would administer reciprocal trade agreements among the member nations. Mr Eisenhower said failure of the United States to join the organisation would harm free world co-operation and ‘‘play directly into the hands of the Communists.”