DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE ECONOMIC ADVISER MEMORANDUM June 4, 1934. Economic Considerations regarding the Desirability of entering into Direct Trade Interchanges with the German Government at the Present Time (1) The elements of recent German commercial policy (of which the chief factors have been quotas often established on arbitrary bases, the creation of state monopolies for import, treaties giving arbitrary and sometimes discriminatory rights to import, and restrictions on exchanges) have decrived our most-favored-nation treaty with Germany of effectiveness. The German Government refused an invitation extended by this Government some months ago to mutually define most-favored-nation rights. (2) In regard to the commodity most often mentioned, lard, the German Government has (a) created a monopoly for dealing in all fats, which monopoly strives to develoo home supolies to the utmost, regardless off price, and (b) in treaties signed with other countries has given these other countries quotas for lard import more favorable than those allotted |