CORDIAL FEELING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 9

CORDIAL FEELING

U.S.A. AND AUSTRALIA

. STAGE SET FOR TRADE TALKS BETTER CONDITIONS AWAITED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 26, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 25. Expressing pleasure ai the adjustment of the trade dispute with Australia, the Secretary ol State (Mr. Cordell Hull; told the Australian Associated Press that be ,was happy that relations were now so good. "Indeed," he said "il is simply impossible for relations between Australia and America ever to be too good.'- - This cordiality is reflected throughout Washington officialdom, which does not hide its readiness to meet Australia in trade matters when conditions are favourable. While the fact cannot oe overlooked that officials stress that a "scar" remains as a reminder ol Australia's discriminatory action against the United States and the United States alone, nevertheless, since Canberra has abandoned the licensing system no further resentment is felt and the American Government is ready to face the future on the friendliest basis. Negotiations will start with a clean sheet While several factors which cannot be controlled by the American Government remain which prevent immediate steps towards detailed treaty talks, the stage is set for developments and it is correct to say that a feeling of restrained optimism prevails in Washington for ultimate success With all the good will in the world however, the American Government faces interna] hurdles which possibly will prove hard to negotiate. The watchdogs throughout the nation must be approached at the right moment and with the right story if anything ts to be achieved.

It was reported recently that the United States "was removing Australia from the "black list" of nations deprived of tariff concessions, as from February 1, as a result of Australia's removal of discrimination against the United States.