EMPIRE PREFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 April 1947, Page 5

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

INDICATION AS TO ATTITUDE OF AMERICA Geneva, April 18. Mr. Clayton, United States Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, stated that the United States was not particularly interested in the elimination of all Empire preferences. He declined to specify those in which she was interested. He added: “We have a few preferences of our own, namely, the Philippines and Cuba.” Mr. Clayton said he was confident that discrimination in international trade could be eliminated and trade bariers reduced, but it would be extremely difficult to reconcile State trading with a policy of international trade organisations. The draft charter provided that under-industrial ised countries should have full permisison to develop new industries, but the United States would wholly disapprove of high tariffs to protect ineflic.ent Industries. Mr. Clayton, at a Press conference, said he was a little disappointed that the trade conference work has not got under way with more speed, reports the “Daily Telegraph.’’ A formula was now being adopted which should help, and a steering committee had been formed to expediate matters. Mr. Ciayton declared that America hoped to increase her imports. She would presently buy only half as much trom abroad as was selling to foreign countries her exports being £2,500 000,000 and imports £250,000,000. The gap was not entirely due to high American tariff. America would be able to bu v w °re foreign goods, even with existing tariffs, if other countries were able to produce them. On State trading, Mr. Clayton said it would be very difficult to reconcile State buying and selling with the principle of non-discrimination which the conference sought to achieve. He hoped to Lmit the use of such device to a minimum and establish safeguards against abuses. On tobacco, in* said hp felt the moment had arrived when Britain must differentiate between tobacco and food imports. He added smilingly: “As a non-smok-er 1 thoroughly approve of Mr. Dalton’s actici.i.”