U.S.A. POLICY.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 366, 22 February 1937, Page 5

U.S.A. POLICY.

MORE TRADE TREATIES

Extension of President’s Powers.

Press Association—Copyright. Washington, February 20,

The Finance Committee recommended to the Senate to-day the passage of a resolution to extend the President’s reciprocal trade agreement pow’er. Senator J. H. Lewis thereupon introduced a resolution to forbid the negotiation of such treaties with any nation in default with debts to the United States. Senator Lewis’s action caused a flurried debate on the general question of debt® in which Senator J. T. Robinson promised that something substantial would be accomplished on the question within a year. Senator W. E. Borah in his reply said the entire programme would come up for reconsideration, based on the reduction of debts.

Information that the British-Cuban trade treaty that has just been signed permits British firms' established in Cuba freely to employ their own nationals, sole exception in Cuba’s highly nationalistic labour lav is, is causing much agitation among American business men, says the correspondent of the New York Times at Havana. No copies of the treaty are available and both the Government and the British Legation ar£ making every effort to the contents secret until it goes to the Senate for ratification.

Americans particularly resent discrimination in view of the advantages Cuba has gained in a reciprocitytreaty with the United States, and of the sugar quota which America has granted the island. They expressed the hope that the same privileges would be afforded Americans when the present reciprocity treaty terminates in August.