NOT PROPITIOUS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 9

NOT PROPITIOUS

TIME FOR TRADE PACT

AUSTRALIA AND U.S.A.

THE GROUND CLEARED

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 22. The impression prevails here that the visit of the Australian High Commissioner in London, Mr. S. M. Brace, was what the French would call a "success Festime," and this term is used in a -highly-compli-mentary sense, for it is widely admitted that he effectively impressed all those with whom he conversed concerning trade matters that a treaty between die United States and Australia transcended in importance the mere commercial items it might contain. Mr. Bruce told the Australian Associated Press that he found an almost universal willingness and desire to conclude some arrangement, but he was compelled to recognise \ that the present moment was not propitious. The basic difficulty remains that both countries produce similar products. It appears that Mr. Bruce feels that something concise is not outside the realm of practical possibility, and he feels that too much time should not be allowed to elapse before writing' some sort of instrument. Now that he is familiar with the situation, the ground will be cleared for a useful instrument if some future occasion makes such an advance possible. VISIT NOT ABORTIVE. American sources emphasised to the Australian Associated Press today that' it would be mischievous to intimate f that the United States of America "had |let Australia down or that Mr. Bruce's > visit was abortive." Political considerations (such, as the possibility of ah outstanding Democratic victory in the 1 1940 Presidential election), the similarity of products, and a host of technical difficulties over negotiations I make an agreement impractical now. It is recognised, however, that the United States of America ultimately I must make concessions to Australia in order to retain the profitable Australian market for manufactured goods. Eighteen months hence such concessions may be easy, whereas today they | might mean political suicide.