U.S. CANNED FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 14

U.S. CANNED FRUIT

IMPORTATION STOPPED

CRITICISM OF BRITAIN

MR. HULL'S ANSWER

(By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received March 16, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 15. Members of Congress, have criticised the suspension by Britain of imports of United States canned fruits.

Senator Nye, a well-known, isolationist, characterised the action as an attempt to punish the United* States for "not more actively supporting the Allies." Others asserted that the action was a repudiation of the theory of a reciprocal trade pact.

The criticisms followed a statemant by the British Ambassador, Lord Lothian, that the restrictions were solely war measures and were not intended to cause a permanent diversion of trade. They were necessary to prevent an accumulation of excess stocks and to restrict the consumption of non-essential commodities.

The Secretary* of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, at a Press conference, said that discussions were continuing with Britain and France to safeguard the commercial interests of the United States. Mr^-Hull explained that exports from the United States to' Britain had greatly increased and those to France had more than doubled, despite the restrictions. D/Er. Hull added that munitions were only a minor portion of the exports.