CONDEMNED BUT USED
. BULK PURCHASE SYSTEM AMERICA FACING BOTH WAYS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) <Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. The announcement that the United States intends Ijo continue its war-time policy of bulk purchasing caused, interest and surprise in Britain, since it quickly followed a vigorous protest made against the Canadian wheat agreement. The Americans stated that such bulk purchasing was contrary to the spirit of the Washington Agreement. The Financial Times, commenting on the matter, says the Washington Administration concluded a number of transactions which come within the category of bulk purchasing long before the conclusion of the Canadian wheat agreement. It instances the Cuban sugar agreement and barter agreements between American firms and the Italian Government. The journal suggests two reasons why America is not’relinquishing, bulk trading and bi-lateralism. First, it is conceivable that, in anticipation of an international trade conference next year, the United States government is anxious to strengthen its position. If Great Britain and other countries employ the weapons of bulk buying and bi-lateral-ism right to the eve of this conference, the United States may consider herself at a disadvantage unless she shows a willingness to resort to those weapons. An alternative explanation is that United States prices are rising well in excess of the British. By the time the conference is held there is almost certain to be quite a substantial discrepancy in favour of Great Britain. It is conceivable that the Americans have concluded that barter and bulk purchasing are necessary owing to the disadvantages to which the United States would be exposed under unltilaterial trading.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 5
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263CONDEMNED BUT USED Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 5
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