“Deplorable U.S. Decision”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 13

“Deplorable U.S. Decision”

(Rec. 8 p-m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 Australia must feel that the united States was. indifferent to her most important interests, the “Financial Times" said today in a leading article on President Eisenhower’s announcement of (he imposition of lead and zftic quotas The decision was not unexpected, but it was nonetheless deplorable for that, the newspaper said The quotas allowed were themselves ungenerous. “The policy is all the more unfriendly in that it immediately follows the British initiative of relaxing quotas on dollar im-ports,’’-said the “Financial Times. Britain had" gone through three serious sterling crises in successive years without resort to new import restrictions, except against dumping. , The response was extremely disappointing. The British economy was not, of course, one of those mainly affected in a direct way "Taking lead and zinc together, the countries most concerned are Australia, Canada, Mexico and Peru,” the newspaper said. “Each has a special and valid claim on American consideration Australia already suffers from excessive tariffs imposed on wool. Wool tariffs are so high that lead and zinc between them actually become her largest dollar-earning commodities.” it said. The United States should recognise that quotas were “a bad neighbour policy" which embarrassed distressed friends of the United States Government throughout the free world.