Wool Bill Reacts On U.S.

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1947, Page 7

Wool Bill Reacts On U.S.

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 17. Delegates to the International Trade Conference at Geneva said today that the conference was not likely to break down as a result of the United States Congress approving of the increased wool tariff, says Reuters correspondent.

The Australian delegates were deeply concerned. They said they intended to seek a reduction in the United States’ wool tariffs and. even if President Truman vetoed the wool bill, they would still request more concessions from the United States. The British delegation said the United States’ wool bill was far more serious for the Americans than anyone else; it had produced scepticism about the United States’ ability to fulfil pledges at international conferences. Reuters financial editor says the United States bill as it stands makes almost a mockery of the Geneva Conference. BREAKS AGREEMENTS

Quite apart from responsible Australian statements that Australia must have cuts, not increases, in the United States wool tariff, this increase would conflict with existing United States agreements with Argentina and Uruguay. The Washington Post, urging Mr Truman to veto the Wool Tax Bill, says: It is bad enough that such an ill-conceived bill makes a mockery of ail our high-sounding talk on new trade agreements at Geneva. What is worse is that the amended programme if upheld wiil flagrantly violate reciprocal trade agreements we have already signed v/ith wool exporting nations.

“If this is sustained in contravention of our pledged word, what nation can then afford to trust us?” Senate action on the wool bill, which passed the House of Representatives yesterday, has been deferred until Julie 18. states a Washington cable. Meanwhile a delegation of Democrat Congressmen from weft* ern wool-producing states plans to call on President Truman within 24 hours in an effort to convince him that the bill should not be vetoed. Veto Upheld On Taxation Biil (1.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. June 17. The House of Representatives today upheld President Truman’s veto of the Tax Reduction Bill, thus finally killing it, since a two-thirds majority of both tlie House and the Senate is necessary to override a veto. The voting was 268 in favour of overriding the veto and 137 in favour of sustaining it. Supporters of the bill were two votes short of the required majority. Opponents of the veto comprised 233 Republicans and 35 Democrats, ajid supporters of it were 134 Democrats, two Republicans and one American Labour Party member.