Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-03
JOHN BULL EXHIBITS ALARM
NanyLeadeu in House Of Commons Dspre-
cate the Shipping Combine
ATTEMPT TO PREVENT TRANSFER FAILS
Opponents Fear Decorating British
ships with Foreign Flag and
Regard America az Dam
erOua Rival.

LONDON, May Am attempt was made
In the House Of Commons today to get the
government to pledge itself to prevent the
flag pending the report Of the committed
recently appointed by the admiralty to in
quire into the subject.
The government leader, A. ]. Balfour,
pointed out that a suggestion Of such a
startling character could not be carried
out without the gravest consideration. II
simply amounted to a proposal that the
British government should prevent a sub
ject from selling his matter to a foreigner.
No doubt the matter referred to was very
serious, but such a drastic change could
not be undertaken lightly.
The government had been privately in
formed regarding the actions OF private In
dividuals and It was giving the matter anx-
ious consideration. II it disclosed this In
formation 1t would shut the door to further
condolences.
Obligation to Navy.
The government would be bound to make
such arrangement with regard to the navy
as the proposed changes might necessitate,
but regarding the effect OF the combina-
tion on British maritime interests and
what should be done to meet It, no an
Rouncement OF its policy could be made
except after prolonged and anxious consid-
Grafton of the complicated problem.
Under the present arrangement the sub
sidized ships remain in the service of the
admiralty for another two years and the
government would be much blamable II IN
the interim It could neither negotiate a
continuance Of the existing terms or make
others equally serviceable to the admiralty
and the country. Meanwhile the govern
ment did not propose on the spur Of the
moment to announce any departure from
the traditional policy of not interfering
with the freedom of commerce.
The ministers would be oharlatans II they
did anything OF the kind. 1t was necessary
to most carefully and thoroughly sift the
whole matter from a commercial point Of
view.
1t must be remembered that this was not
a commercial enterprise, engineered by a
foreign and hostile government, but q trade
combination.
Bryce Opposes Motion.
James Bryce. liberal. former president Of
the Board Of Trade, advocated the with
drawal of the motion to pledge the govern
ment to the transfer. but urged the gov
INT to make a prompt inquiry into the
subject. Other speakers held that the ar
rangement was In, no ways unpatriotic. II
was an alliance. not annexation, by Ameri-
cans. The companies had simply made a
reasonable and business-like combination.
Sir James Woodhouse, liberal, disclaimed
all ~antipathy to or ill-feeling for Ameri-
cans, but, he asserted, British maritime
and mercantile interests were menaced by
the Americans, who had already captured
the British shoe and steel industries, and
he wanted the government to take action In
order to stem the tide.
The remarks Of Rear Admiral LORD
Charles Beresford, conservative, rather
sided with those who thought that the
American invasion spelled ruin to British
ers. He said he feared the American trust
would use this combination to pour Ameri-
can produce into this country, to the dis
advantage Of the producers here, and that
there would be a general disruption Of the
trade and OF Great Britain.
Lord Beresford advocated subsidizing
on the Canadian route.