TO PROMOTE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 138, 8 December 1945, Page 7

TO PROMOTE TRADE

PROPOSED CONFERENCE

Rec. 9 a.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 7. The American proposals for the conference mentioned by Mr. Attlee were contained in a United States White Paper issued with the loan announcement. It proposed that the nations of the world act collectively to break down international trade barriers and promote full employment. Although conceding that no government is ready to embrace free trade in any absolute sense, the White Paper proposed that the nations make a determined start in that direction, through, firstly, an international conference on trade and employment to be convened next summer under United Nations sponsorship; secondly, a permanent international trade organisation to be established under the United Nations as a central agency for promoting world trade.

The White Paper said collective action to prevent economic warfare was a necessary supplement to the United Nations Organisation efforts to prevent military warfare. It added that international trade was curtailed by four general factors: First, government restrictions such as tariffs, export licences, import quotas, and exchange controls; secondly, restrictions by private combines and cartels which divide the world into exclusive markets and stiile competition, keep prices up, and keep production down; thirdly, fear of violent and sudden changes in demand for and supply of certain primary commodities; fourthly, wide fluctuations and the fear thereof in production and employment.

The White Paper further proposed that negotiations for widespread reduction in tariffs and other governmentimposed barriers be started.in advance of the international conference.