AMERICA AND EMPIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 10

AMERICA AND EMPIRE

CONFERENCE LIKELY

WASHINGTON VIEW

TRADE TREATIES

ROOSEVELT MAY SPRING

SURPRISE

united Press Assoclatlon-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January 22, 2.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 21. The Associated Press finds that a strong belief prevails in Washington that a politico-economic conference j between the representatives of the British Empire and the United States is being arranged. It is emphasised that questions of a purely English interest will not be the sole subje matter for two reasons—nibtly, that foreign policy is vitally concerned, on 'which the Dominions must be consulted, and, secondly, that the United States prefers to dispose at the same time of numerous trade problems pending in various parts of the Empire, no - ably in Australia. Despite general rlpnials it is considered inevitable that Mr. Walter Runciman and President Roosevelt's discussions at the weekend will lay the ground work for the conference. Mr. Runciman is arriving tomorrow and will be a guest at the White House on Saturday. Senator Pittman, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and those familiar with Mr. Roosevelt s methods of making important treaty proposals, recall the way in which he suddenly without preliminary notice, made a definite offer when Mr. Mackenzie King visited the White House previous to the Canadian agreement. He is expected to do something similar with Mr. Runciman. It is Mr. Roosevelt's unvarying intention • to continue his reciprocal trade treaty programme, despite the intimated opposition of Congressional blocks. „ , . In a message sent to Congress today the President said'. "Economic strife, resulting from inordinate trade barriers, is one Of the most fruitful sources of political animosity and military conflict. A policy designed to reduce excessive trade barriers and to establish equality of trade rights is a powerful instrument of economic appeasement and stability. It thus serves to strengthen the foundations of world peace." Unless Congressional opposition develops beyond Mr. Roosevelt's capacity to overcome it—and Representatives Treadway and Knudson bitterly heckled Mr. Cordell Hull, who appeared before the committee to read the President's letter today—it seems clear that the first and foremost treaty written in the President's new term will be with the British Empire.