FOREIGN TRADE: Revolution in N.A.M.

In Dallas last week Frederick Coolidge Crawford, recently elected president of the National Association of Manufacturers, dented the armor of N.A.M.’s traditional foreign-trade policy. As late as 1940 N.A.M. vigorously opposed continuation of the Hull reciprocal trade treaties, declared against tariff reductions. Now Crawford, in line with his philosophy of free competition (TIME, March 1), specifically called for the elimination of inflexible tariffs and declared: “There will be another war in 25 to 30 years if nations close up behind rigid trade barriers.” His declaration raised hopes in some quarters that N.A.M. would support the extension of the Hull treaties when they come up for renewal this spring.