Mr. Jenkins Wants to Know

Representative Thomas A. Jenkins of Ironton, Ohio is a folksy, paunchy Republican who has been in Congress for 19 years. Last week, as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, he was thrust into the first down-to-earth Congressional debate on the postwar world --on the renewal of reciprocal trade agreements. Mr. Jenkins listened soberly for two days to a lot of high talk about "international cooperation," "world trade," "economic reconstruction." Finally he blurted what was on his mind:

"Here's what I'm tired of: all this talk about fellowship and good will and you fellows circumnavigating the globe.

It all costs a lot of money. What do we get out of it?"

Mr. Jenkins' question was on the minds of many of his fellow citizens. Polled last week by the University of Denver's National Opinion Research Center, 62% saw nothing inadequate in the question. They declared themselves not willing to let foreign goods compete in the U.S. market. As he went before Congress to battle for renewal of his reciprocal trade act, good, grey Secretary of State Cordell Hull well knew that he had the attention of the U.S.

The act, originally passed in 1934, expires June 12; Secretary Hull wanted another three-year extension (which might carry into the postwar period). He expected to get it. In 1940 renewal squeaked through the Senate by only five votes. But war had widened the horizon for many a Congressman.

Reciprocal trade's record was not easy to attack. Today the U.S. has reciprocity agreements with 27 nations, including its biggest customer, the United Kingdom. Under reciprocity, U.S. foreign trade rose to $5,495,000,000 in the last prewar year, almost double the 1932 low point.

Cordell Hull laid his case plainly before Congress and the doubting Jenkinses. Said he: "What we do ... will be looked upon [by other nations] as a signpost pointing to the path they can expect us to follow. Repudiation . . . would be taken as a clear indication that this country, which in war is bearing its full share of responsibility, will not do so in peace."

Mr. Jenkins did not yet seem wholly convinced. But except for some loud ranting by California's rampageous Bertrand W. Gearhart and some quiet sniping by New York's crustacean Daniel A. Reed, the Republicans generally seemed relaxed. At this point renewal looked like a safe bet. Economic isolationism might still have a strong hold on the Jenkinses of the U.S., but it was clear that the nation, however slowly, was marching carefully ahead on a path toward participation in the outside world.

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