TRADE PARLEYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 13

TRADE PARLEYS

MR. BRUCE'S MISSION PRIVATE CONFERENCES TARIFF DIFFICULTIES TREATY WITH AMERICA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 20, 5.5 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 The Australian Minister in London, Mr. Stanley Bruce, who is on a visit to the United States, attended a luncheon given by Mr. Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary of State, at which he met some of the highest officials connected with trade and finance, including Mr. Henry A. Wallace, Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Daniel C. Boper, Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Marriner Eccles, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, and virtually all the key figures in the tariff and trade agreements section of the State Department headed by the trade pact director, Mr. Francis B. Sayre. Observers regarded the luncheon as a tributo to the high regard in which Mr. Bruce personally is held, and as symbolic of the friendliness to Australia as weil as the basic good intention of the United States to negotiate a trade treaty; but Mr. Bruce came to grips with his real business in Washington during private conferences with Mr. Sayre and Mr. Wallace, the latter of which was the most significant, since it is believed Mr. Wallace personifies the agricultural leaders' opposition to an Australian treaty at present. Mr. Bruce, interviewed after his conference, admitted that the agricultural leaders' opposition to a reduction of duty on Australian product was the major difficulty. He stressed, however, tliat this had long been recognised. "Generally I find a friendly disposition regarding a treaty among United States officials, but naturally some difficulties are involved," said Mr. Bruce. "I have not finished my conversations and therefore I am unable to comment about what has transpired." Mr. Bruce added that he had discussed a wheat conference, and said all nations seemed interested but none had yet committed itself regarding the amount of restriction it would adopt.