The Times News

NEWSPAPERS' OPINIONS
"ECONOMIC SUICIDE"

It is probably mere coincidence that the report of the International Institute of Agriculture, denouncing governmental crop restriction, follows so closely on the inauguration of our new cotton-subsidy plan. But the coincidence lends added point to the institute's scathing criticism of the policy of "restricting agricultural production with a view to adapting it to dwindling demand."

From its headquarters in Rome this independent organization, founded by American initiative over 30 years ago, issues periodic summaries of world agricultural trends. The United States, like every other important nation, is a member of the institute, the scientific detachment and repute of which give great importance to its formal announcements.

So it is worth a thought when the International Institute of Agriculture, in its current report places the United States "under the Roosevelt administration," second only to "the totalitarian states and Soviet Russia" in its devotion to governmental regimentation of agriculture and trade.

This "methodical intervention of governments," the report continues, has in many cases changed the structure of agriculture "so profoundly that the effect is bound to be lasting."

As though to indorse the institute's findings comes our new cotton loan and subsidy policy, with all its implications for extension to other "basic crops" and consequent renewal of open restriction programs.

Such planned scarcity, the institute points out, is far more potent in retarding recovery than is Secretary Hull's trade agreements program in advancing it. The Hull program, the report asserts, "could not be said to have succeeded to a marked extent" because "the general trend of commercial policy continues to point to further restriction."

These are cutting criticisms, the more so because issued from so objective, restrained and authoritative a source. It is unpleasant to hear that as others see us we are ranked next to Germany, Italy and Russia as a country experimenting with "economic suicide." But at least we have the cold comfort of knowing that this sharp comment is an honest, as well as an expert, opinion.-Washington Post.