BOB BATTLES FOR CONTROLS TO SAFEGUARD AGRICULTURE UNDER RECIPROCAL TARIFFS
Mobley, Radford E.
Bob Battles For Controls to Safeguard Agriculture Under Reciprocal Tariffs Demands Protection As Warring ISations Shift Imports By RADFORD E. MOBLEY WASHINGTON, D. C—Sen. Robert M. La Follette...
...La Follette declared yesterday...
...i "The foreign trade developments j of recent days gives emphasis to the fact the war situation abroad has completely changed basic considerations involved in the trade agreements...
...He saw the need for protection of American agriculture, the American consumer, and American neutrality, those elements which would first feel the effects of disrupted world trade and foreign propaganda to draw us into war...
...Defeated in his efforts to prevent our sale of weapons abroad, the senator turned at once to a practical defense of American economy and American peace against onslaughts from abroad cr war mongers at home...
...His chief concern was three-fold...
...These are a few of the problems which La Follette sees and Washington is beginning to realize...
...Britain's new import restrictions of canned fruit, Canada's proposed export quotas on nickel, and Britain's new foreign exchange control requiring South American customers to pay for British goods in American dollars, all have adverse effect on our trade...
...The British may control grain prices by fixing prices it will pay here while selling at a higher regulated price elsewhere...
...Watch out for our own economy," ls the La Follette watchword...
...Robert M. La Follette (P-Wis...
...told The Capital Times Saturday that "unless our vital American interests are protested and some checks placed upon the executive in making trade treaties in the future" he will vote against continuance of the Hull pacts...
...Acts to Protect U. S. Acting constructively, the senator has: 1. Proposed an amendment to the trade agreements act which will force foreign nations to buy normal amounts of domestic farm products if they get arms, and will license trade to protect consumers...
...The Badger senator believes that recent foreign trade developments, especially actions taken by Great Britain and Canada, have adversely affected American trade and have made the present treaties "hopelessly ineffective.'' Stand Ls Consistent The senator's attitude represents a consistent stand taken by him since the present war started in Europe when he rose in the senate to fight the neutrality act...
...The department may adopt the La Follette philosophy, developed after his unsuccessful fight against the neutrality law, that although this country decided to permit the sale of arms abroad it has the right remaining to put strings on such sales in order that our national economy may not be knocked into a cocked hat...
...Its demand for dollar exchange maker...
...Washington envisions foreign domination of domestic prices and economy unless some steps are taken...
...South American trade, now in the stage of development, highly improbable...
...They are further steps in wartime trade controls against which our trade treaty program ls hopelessly ineffective...
...2. Called quickly for an investigation of sale of aircraft to the Allies before secret models have been thoroughly tested by the U. | S. army...
...The senator's amendment to the trade treaty act to protect agriculture and the consumer was voted down in the finance committee along party lines, but it was learned yesterday that the state department, now alarmed over the present situation, is giving the proposal study at the moment...
...It can corner wool and other markets, raising prices to the American consumer...
Vol. 10 • March 1940 • No. 12
