Evening Star Newspaper, July 17, 1932, Page 15

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 17, ENGLAND'S ENPIRE - TRADE AT STAKE Conference at Ottawa Wil Try to Induce Dominions to “Buy British.” BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. What in ordinary times amounts to & round two billion dollars’ worth of American export trade to the British Empire is at stake in the British Im- perial Conference opening at Ottawa this week. Washington's foremost com- mercial authorities believe that while this business is threatened by any ulti- mate decision to link John Bull's vast empire into a “Buy British” confedera- tion, American interests are not actually endangered. The reason is that the British, their dominions as well as the mother country of Great Britain, need | the rich American market. | It is considered highly improbable | here that Ottawa will at this time do | anything to jeopardize British trade with the United States. Reprisals would be invited by such action, and, in the present temper of the American people and Congress toward “abroad,” it would not be difficult to mobilize public sentiment in favor of instituting retaliatory action. British statesmen, especially Canadians, are aware of all this. It is expected to be the factor which will deter the Ottawa conference from moving in any direction that might lead to a British-American tariff conflict in the immediate future. The avowed purpose of the confer- ence, described in London as “the most vital” in empire history, is to persuade the various constituent nations of the| British commonwealth to buy more | goods in empire countries and fewer | goods in non-British countries. For years almost every important British land has purchased in the United States on a scale second only to its buyings in Great Britain. Canadian- American trade has been almost con- sistently heavier than Canadian-British trade, due, of course, mainly to the proximity of the Dominion to the United States. In prosperity “boom” days, American sales to the British Empire ran regularly over $2.000,000,000 a year, reaching a peak of roundly two and & quarter billions in 1929. They sank in 1931 to $1,020,012,000. During the “boom” period British Empire nations sold to the United States an average of $1.500,000,000 of their goods a year. This volume, like our exports to the empire, was almost cut in two during 1931, when British sales in the American market fell to $630,276.000. There is not a single British “daughter nation” which would not be affected by any serious inter- ruption of British-American commerce as the result of a “Buy British” con- federation which sought to discrimi- nate against Yankee goods. Here is how our trade with the em- pire was distributed in 1931: American_exports to— United Kingdom . Australia . Canada ... . British India .... Irish Free State ....... Newfoundland-Labrador . New Zealand s South Africa ..... Other British countries .. The trade that Britons might imperil if American exports to their market were unfairly handicapped is indicated ' by the following tabulation of British sales to the United States in 1931: American imports from— United Kingdom . Australia . Canada .. British India Irish Free State . p Newfoundland-Labrador . 10,3 New Zealand 4,433,000 South Africa .. 4,404,000 Other British countries .. 135,966,000 The balance of American-British $455,561.000 27,167,000 395,648,000 36,698,000 ..$135.452,000 12,504,000 Senora Calles Recovers WIFE OF FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR HOME. for their home in Mexico City. EN. PLUTARCO ELIAS CALLES, Senora Leonor Licrente Calles. shown in Boston just before they started periled by a brain tumor, is apparently fully recovered from a recent operation for which she was rushed to Boston. CAPTALNEARTOP | FOR CONVENTIONS Groups Booked Ahead as Far as 1940 by Board of Trade. With the exception of New York and Chicago, the Capital stands out this year as the leading convention city of the country for national organizations. C. N. Nichols, director of the con- vention department of the Greater Na- tonal Capital Committee, made known yesterday that his organization is working as far ahead as 1940 in seek- :nx national conventions for Washing- on. During the first half of the Bicenten- conventions have Lcen held here, and a great many more are yet to take place. have been in Washintgon thus far to attend these meetings. Chicago a Competitor. Faced with spirited competition from Chicago, which already has secured 2,000 conventions for 1933, its World's Fair year, the Greater National Capital former President of Mexico, and his wife, i Senora Calles, whose life was im- —A. P. Photo. trade is ordinarily in the United States’ | favor. Our exports in 1931 were $1,020,012,000 against imports of $630,- 276,000. American sales to British lands last year accounted for between | 40 and 45 per cent of our total foreign | export trade. | Great Britain will be represented at Ottawa by one of the strongest delega- ‘ tions that it ever sent to an overseas conference. It is headed by former | Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, who | negotiated the Baldwin-Mellon war debt settlement with the United States in 1923. The mother country is under no illusions as to the difficulties it con- fronts at Ottawa in the aspiration to link up the empire for all-empire trade purposes. Not the least obstacle in the path of agreement is the grow- ing nationalism and industrialism of various dominions, especially Canada. British steelmakers, for _example, would like to widen their market in the Dominion, but Canada has a great and flourishing steel industry of its own, which resents British competition as much as it resents American com- petition. _Another factor John Bull Seriously has to consider is his far- flung investments in non-British countries like Argentina. Argentina wants to continue to sell its meat prod- ucts in Great Britain. But Australia and New Zealand covet that market The British must think twice and thrice before doing anything to offend or damage Argentina, where tens of mil- lions of British pounds are invested in industrial enterprises. All in all, British genius for com- promise will face a supreme test in Canada this Summer. The most that conservative observers hope for is that Ottawa may lay the ground for future conferences on inter-empire trade. World _conditions are still tco dis- ordered, British authorities think, to justify too vigorous a * British” campaign, which would in- cvitably disorzanize and perhaps dev- astate non-British markets all over the world—markets Britannia sorely needs at this time. (Copyright, 1932.) HAS FLANDERS POPPIES Colo., Seed From France. Mrs. C. P. Childress of Lamar. Colo. has in her garden a bed of Flanders poppies. The seed came from France, and the poppies are identical with those in Flanders fields. | ation amount available may cause indi: Lamar, Woman Imported | Committee, a branch of the Washing- ton Board of Trade, is steadily adding to its list of national group meetings for Washington next year. Seventy national organizations already have decided on the Capital for their 1933 conventions, while 25 others are | virtually certain to meet here, according | to Nichols. The Greater National Cap- ital Committee, founded little more than a year ago to promote the tourist and convention interests of Washing- ton, is contacting more than 500 na- McCarl Ruling Allays Fear of | tional ‘groups with an idea of inter- N ;;l;g nT;cm "e‘:rthu city as a meeting Cut Greater Than Provided = in Act. Large Groups Coming. | convene here next vear are the United States Chamber of Commerce, Congress | | nial year, Nichols said, more than 100 || He estimated 50,000 delegates || Among the larger groups expected to || of American Physicians and Surgeons. |/} The United States Court of Claims American Institute of Architects, Tall | may not transfer emploves from one :ffi;‘ffi, nof ugnng lEnstem Arts Axs'l pay ol to another, but it may transfer | Teachom' “Asociotien” Moo then funds from one of its appropriations to 30,000 delegates will attend the conven- another appropriation in order “equit- | tions already secured. ably to adjust, in so far as the economy | faw may permit. the pay between its | here in connection with first joint con- two sets of officers and employes, those Vention of Northern and Southern Bap- on the ‘court roll' and those on the | tists next June. commissioners’ roll,” Controller General _ Nichols sald he does not attribute the McCarl has ruled. large number of conventions held here Judge Richard S. Whaley of the this year to the Bicentennial Celebra- court had explained that the appro- tion. This inducement, he said. was priation for officers and employes had |used in comparatively few instances been cut 182, per cent, in addition to | When national bodies were being con- which the salaries of these officers and | tacted. employes must be reduced by the 813 | To bear out this contention, Nichols per cent compulsory under the economy | said prospects for 1934 indicate it will act. be an outstanding convention year. At- “In so far as this allotment is less | tendance during that vear, he predict- than was available for such purpose in | ed. will exceed the 1932 figure. the prior fiscal year,” McCarl said, “it | More than $10,500,000 has been spent is a reduction in the amount available by tourists sources as a result of the and not a reduction in compensation |conventions held here thus far this of individual employes. The individual | year, according to Curtis Hodges. execu- employes with respect to reduction of | tive director of the Greater National compensation are subject to the fur- Capital Committee. lough and percentage reductions, and the lesser amount of an appropriation made available referred to is Dot 10 |tarily taking all of the required fur- be classed as a reduction of compen-|jough at one time or at such times as sation of individuals. Administrative | may be convenient for the court, but furloughs to keep within the appropri- t i | excess of the number of days for which viduals to be without work or pay for | pay deductions have already been made periods that are not known or the at the rate of one-quarter day's pay amounts or percentage of loss to them |for each working day's absence, de- ascertainable until such administrative | duction at the same rate must be made furlough is directed.” for the excess.” Further explanation of how employes ~ Funds saved by the administrative may take the compulsory furlough was furlough may be used for the payment | explained to the Court of Claims by of salaries of those retained on’ duty. | McCarl. McCarl ruled, but he explained that “Section 101 (b) limits the amount funds released by severances from the, of furlough which any employe may be |service (vacancies) may not be so used, | required to take in any one month to'but must be impounded in the Treas- five days,” said the decision. “However, ury unless such impounding is waived | tkere is no objection to employes volun- | in writing by the President. 500 Reward For information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons spreading damaging rumors concerning the Mount Vernon Savings Bank. A malicious and unfounded rumor has been spread throughout the city, and particularly in some of the Government Departments, concerning the stability of this institution, which has naturally caused some uneasiness to some of our depositors, especially those who have Christmas and Vacae tion Savings in the bank. We wish to assure our depositors in particular, and the public at large, that the Mount Vernon Savings Bank was never in a better financial position than at the present time. We are prepared to meet every obligation, and our depositors need not feel the slightest concern for the safety of their funds held in their name in this bank. We strongly urge our depositors not to withdraw their savings. They are much safer in our bank than they will be carried on the person, or put away for supposedly safekeeping about the house. The Mount Vernon Savings Bank is as solid and sound as the Rock of Gibraltar. We have, can, and will meet all legitimate demands made upon us. All we can ask is that those we have served so well in the past to continue to have confidence in our institution. We pledge our word and honor that such confidence will not be misplaced. Do not listen to idle rumors. We trust this statement will reassure those of our depositors who may have become disturbed over the malicious rumors heretofore referred to. To those who have already withdrawn Christmas and Vacation Savings, we suggest they return them to our bank, where they will be safe and available when actually needed for the purpose intende ed by the depositor when the account was opened. In closing, we desire to say that not a single large depositor has withdrawn a dollar from our bank except that needed in the ordinary conduct of business. We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to these depositors for the support given, and the confidence displayed. MOUNT VERNON SAVINGS BANK = If information is wanted concerning our institution, its officers 'will gladly supply it on request. Again we declare that the Mount Vernon Savings Bank is sound, liquid, and in a position to pay on demand, all of its obligations in full. Signed: FRANK W. 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