UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 9

UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS

MR BRUCE'S MISSION VISIT TO PRESIDENT RECIPROCAL TRADE PACT ( United Press Association> (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. (Received Dec. 18, at 10 p.m.) Mr S. M. Bruce, who has arrived from New York, will begin on Monday a strenuous programme of official conversations by conferring with Mr Sumner Welles on the question of a reciprocal trade pact. Officials in Washington expect that Mr Bruce will appeal strongly for the prompt beginning of trade pact negotiations, particularly in view of the sacrifices which Australia made to permit the conclusion of the Anglo-American Pact.

Mr Bruce's visit to President Roosevelt will be especially important, because by a successful appeal to the President he may be able to break the deadlock among the other officials, which, so far, has obstructed the negotiations. It is understood that several State Department officials favour prompt negotiations, partly for political reasons, and partly because they believe a pact with Australia would be a fair and reasonable project, especially after the British negotiations. Other officials, however, particularly agricultural leaders, strongly oppose a pact on the ground that enlarged imports of wool, meats, and other basic Australian products would be damaging to American agriculture.