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The Trade Barriers Committee was guided in its work by the oft-repeated views of its Presidents. 
Mr. Walter Lear, in his address to the Council on March 5th, 1926 said : 
“The capacity for production exists, and is generally much larger than in prewar times; but the products are stagnat- 
ing because they are refused, or at least hampered by foreign tariffs and trade barriers. Hence unemployment, stagnation 
of industry, and a lamentable waste of potential human energy. The whole standard of living is lowered by the artificial 
restrictions on human efficacy. A European trade lead would have open markets on at least the same scale as those of 
the United States, and would thus be able to compete in production on equal term swith that vast area of free trade inter- 
couse. National jealousies force us here to employ in suicidal trade sstruggles the efforts which should be concetrated 
on the general advancement of human well-being. It is for the International Chamber to do its best to educate the world 
to this wider outlook ;” 
Mr. Etienne CLEMENTEL, Founder President of the International Chamber of Commerce, at the first meeting o 
the Central Committee of the Trade Barriers Committee on June 22nd, 1926, speaking on the economic crisis which weighs 
so heavily upon European countries said : “that all countries share in the responsibility for the present distress and all 
men of good-will ought to join in their efforts to suppress trade barriers”. He added that : “the free movement of raw 
materials must be assured’’ and that “it is necessary to obtain universal recognition of the fact that one of the essential 
conditions. of social and industrial reconstruction is an increase of production and of consumption” ; 
Sir Alan ANDERSON, acting President of the International Chamber of Commerce, laying stress upon moral barriers 
said :— 
“Greater importance is attached to mental barriers to trade than to physical ones. So long as national unit 
believe : 
I. That foreign trade is something to be regarded with suspicion instead of as the first necessity of their 
national life : 
2. ‘That they can continue to sell their productions abroad without buying from abroad : 
3. That the ruin of their neighbour is an element ni their own prosperity instead of the reverse being the 
case ; 
4. That they can in any way impede the free flow of commerce internationally without their actions recoiling 
on their own heads; 
5. That particular sections of national communities are entitled to benefit at the expense of the general trade 
of the nation,— 
attempts to remove the evil effects which spring from this state of mind will be unavailing”. 
The Council of the International Chamber of Commerce in approving this Report as an initial contrib- 
ution to the inquiry pursued by the Trade Barriers Committee decided to ask its observer, Sir Arthur Barrour, Chair. 
man of the British National Committee, to present it to the Preparatory Committee of the International Economic 
Conference of the League of Nations.