Show Text of Roosevelt's Message on Tariff W WASHINGTON ASHINGTON March 2 Here JP-Here P Her Heris Here is the text of President Roosevelt's Roosevelt tariff message to congress To the congress I am requesting the congress to autho authorize ize the executive to enter I 1 into executive commercial commercial agree agree agreements ments with foreign nations and andin andin andin in pursuance ce thereof within carefully carefully carefully care care- fully guarded limits to modify existing duties and import restrictions restrictions restrictions in such a way as will benefit benefit bene bene- fit American agriculture and in in- This action seems seem s opportune and necessary nece Sary at this time for several reasons First world trade has declined with startling rapidity Measured Measured Mea Mea- in terms of or the volume of or goods in 1933 it has been reduced to approximately 70 per cent tent of its 1929 volume measured in terms of ot dollars it has fallen faJen to 35 per cent The drop in the foreign trade of the United States has been even sharper Our exports in 1933 1913 were but 52 per cent of the 1929 volume and 32 per cent of the 1929 value Points Out Results This has meant idle hands still machines ships tied to their docks despairing farm households households households house house- holds and hungry industrial lies It has made Infinitely more difficult the planning readjustment in which the government government government gov gov- is now engaged You and I know that the world does not stand still that trade trad movements rits and relations once interrupted In In- Interrupted in interrupted can with the utmost difficulty be restored that even evenin evenin evenin in tranquil and prosperous times there is is Isa a constant shifting shilling of trade trad channels How much greater how much more violent is the shifting in these times of change and of stress is clear from the record of current current cur cur current rent history Every nation must at all times be in a position quick quick- quickly ly Iy to adjust its ts taxes and tariffs to meet sudden changes and avoid severe fluctuations in m both Doth its Us ex- ex ex exports exports ports and its imports Emphasizes Balance You and I know too that it is important that the country pos pos- possess possess possess sess within its borders a necessary necessary necessary sary diversity and balance to maintain a a. rounded national life that it must sustain activities vital to national defense and that such interests can not be sacrificed for passing advantage Equally clear is the fact that a I full and permanent domestic recovery depends depends de de- in part upon a revived and strengthened international trade and that American exports can cannot cannot cannot not be permanently increased without a corresponding increase in imports Second other governments are areto areto areto to an increasing ever increasing extent ning their share of international trade by by negotiated reciprocal trade agreements If It American agricultural and industrial interests interests interests inter inter- ests are to retain their deserved place in this trade the Amerl American an government must be in a position to bargain for that place with other governments by rapid and decisive negotiation based upon a a. carefully considered program and to grant with discernment corresponding opportunities inthe inthe in inthe the American market for foreign products supplementary to our own Sees Trade Superseded If the American government is not in a position to make fair offers otters for tor fair opportunities its trade will be superseded d. d If It it itis itis itis is not in a position at at a given moment rapidly to alter the terms on which it is willing to deal with other countries it can cannot not adequately adequately adequately ade ade- protect its trade against discriminations and against bargains bar bar- gains injurious rious to its industries Furthermore a promise to pro to which prompt effect can not be given is not an inducement which can pass current at par in commercial negotiations For this reason any smaller degree of or authority in the hands of ot the executive would be tive The executive branches of or virtually all other important trading countries already possess some ome such power I would emphasize that quick results are arc not to be expected The successful building up of trade without injury to American Ameri Ameri- can p producers depends upon a cautious and gradual evolution e of plans Must lust Sound Attitudes The disposition of other countries countries countries coun coun- tries to grant an improved place to American products should be carefully sounded and consid ered Upon the attitude of or each must somewhat depend our future future future fu fu- fu- fu ture course of action With countries countries countries coun- coun coun coun- tries which are unwilling to abandon purely restrictive national national national na na- na- na programs or to make concessions con con- cessions towards the reestablish I ment of international trade no headway will be e possible le The exercise of the authority which I propose must be carefully careful carefully ly weighed in the light of the latest information so as to give assurance that no sound and important important important im im- im- im American interest will wiil be injuriously disturbed The adjustment adjustment ad ad- of our foreign trade relations relations re re- lations must rest on the premise of ot undertaking to benefit and not notto notto notto to injure such interests In a time of difficulty and unemployment unemployment unemployment ment such as this the highest consideration consideration consideration con con- of the position of the different branches of American production is required Holds Hopes for Gains GalM From the policy of reciprocal negotiation which is In prospect I hope in time that definite gains will result to American agrIculture agriculture ture tune and industry Important branches of our agriculture ag ago such as cotton tobacco hog products rice cereal and fruit raising and those branches of American industry whose mass production methods have led the world will find expanded opportunities and productive capacity capacity ca capacity ca- ca in f foreign reign markets and will thereby be spared in part at least the heartbreaking readjustments readjust ments that must be necessary ary if jf the shrinkage of or Amer American can for for- commerce remains permanent perma perma- nent A AA resumption of at international trade cannot but improve the general situation of at other countries countries coun coun- countries tries and thus increase their purchasing purchasing pur pun chasing power Let us well remember remember remember re re- re- re member that this in turn spells increased opportunity for American Ameri Amen can sales Called Essential Step Legislation such as this is 15 an m essential step in the program of n national economic recovery which the congress has elaborate elaborated ed during the past year It is part pa t of an emer emergency ency program necessitated necessitated by the economic crisis through which we arc are passing It should provide that the trade agreements shall be terminable within a period not to exceed three years a shorter period probably ably bly would not suffice for putting putting putting put put- ting the program into effect In its execution the executive must of course pay due heed to the re requirements requirements re- re of other branches of our recovery program such as the National Industrial Recovery Act I hope for early carly action The many immediate situations in the field of or international trade that today await our attention can canth th thus s b be met effectively and with th the least pos possible delay FRANKLIN D. D ROOSEVELT |