Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-09-04

London, Eng, Aug. 30.-The approaching
expiration of the time limit for the COM
pletion of the Atlantic Shipping Combine Is
arousing the British press to all sorts OF
speculation regarding J. Pierpont Morgan 3
ultimate plans, as well as TO the govern
nient's scheme for dealing with the com
bination. -
The promised statement of the Premier.
A, j. Balfour, on the reassemblina OF Par
lament is awaited with intense interest Ths
assertion has already been printed that The
government plans are complete, and that III
authorities are all ready to make an efiective
counter move against the American syrflf
cate. Inquiries made BY The Associatsd
Press In the best informed quarters Indioafs
that this announcement IL not true. The
government has had to deal with SO many
powerful and conflicting interests that ii
has not yet been able to definitely decide on
plan of action. In spite of the Opposition
to general subsidy scheme, well informed
persons consider this to be the most likely
solution, on the lines of a generous distri-
button of government support, not in behalf
OF one, but of several companies. The form
which such assistance will take is still under
discussion, there being considerable oppo-
sition to straight subsidies. There ID no
doubt that MIR. Baifour's announcement VIII
include scheme for a direct fast Canadian
service, in which the Canadian Pacific rail.
road will probably participate but not an
originally planned, as sole promoter and a
beneficiary. The indications point more and
more to the drawing together of the Atlantic
lines outside OF the Morgan combine. One
of the alliances which may be earliest az : &
pected is combination of the Allan Line
and Elder Dempster & Co. The heads of
the English lines are chary in expressing
themselves on the Atlantic outlook. Time il
intensifying, rather than allayinq. thar
jealousy of the american bid for the Allan
tic trade; and the government has been
thoroughly stirred up, and will not leave
stone. nnturned to allay the existing COM
mercinl and colonial discomfort.
In this connection it may be mentioned
that the tariff discussions at the recent
colonial conference were intimately con-
nected with the shipping situation. "A lend.
ing ship owner and a close friend of thu
Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain.
said to a representative of The Associated
Press: America must not think that their
imperial government is going to leave the
colonies at the mercy of the shipping or any
other trust. The discomfort is acute enough
now in many quarter of the Empire. While
war with the United States, she will ucl
stand indefinitely being shut out by Tx
American tariff wall while keeping opeX
house for american traders in the United
Kingdom. The question of retaliatory dutie9
is not SO improbable as many people
imagine. There is no reason why the Brit.
ish colonial markets should not be opened
t., British goods on preferential basis. Wa
have been asleep here in England for long
time; but when we wake up, America had
better look out
Sir Christopher Furness, who has been
referred to as the possible head OF the Eng
lish financial syndicate which is likely to
purchase the Cunard fleet as the nucleus
for British shipping combine. limited at
similar possibilities yesterday in his speech
before the steamship meeting at Man.
chester; but, as he was addressing puhsi<
Meeting, he was not 80 outspcksn M thd
leading ship owner quoted above. 80