Evening star., 1902-08-30
STEAMSHIP MERGER R
British Still Anxious About
Big Deal.
TALK OF OPPOSITION
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE HAND
IN MATTER.
Renewed Talk of Subsidized Cana
dian Line to Combat the Ameri-
can Combine.
TALK OF OPPOSITION

LONDON, Augus. 3O-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 Nor
gans ultimate plans, as we'll as the gov
ernments scheme for dealing with the
combination. The promised statement Of
the premier, A. ]. Balfour the reas-
sembling of parliament, is awaited with in
tense interest. The statement has already
been printed that the government plans
are complete, and that the authorities are
all ready to make an effective counter
move against the American syndicate. In
quiries made by the Associated Press in the
best-informed quarters indicate that this
announcement is not true.
The government has had to deal with so
many powerful and conflicting interests
that it has not yet been able TO definitely
decide on a plan OF action. In spite of the
opposition to Il general subsidy scheme,
well-informed persons consider this to be
the most likely solution, on the lines of a
generous distribution of government sup
port, not in behalf of one. but of several
companies. The form which such assist
ance will take IS still under discussion,
there being considerable opposition to
straight subsidies.
For a Canadian Line.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Bafour's an
nouncement will include scheme for
direct, fast Canadian service, in which the
Canadian Pacific railroad will probably
participate, but not, as originally planned,
as sole promoter and 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 expected
is a combination of the Allan line and Ell
der, Dempster & Company. The heads of
the English lines are chary in expressing
themselves on the Atlantic outlook. Time
is rather intensifying than allaying their
jealousy of the Americans bid for the At
lantic trade, and the government has been
so thoroughly stirred up that it will not
leave a stone unturned to allay the existing
commercial and colonial discomfort
In this connection it may be mentioned
that the tariff discussions at the recent CO.
lonial conference were very intimately con-
neCted with the shipping situation. \ lead
ing ship owner and a close friend of the
colonial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain,
said to a representative of the Associated
Press:
Plans Of the Government.
America must not think that the i'm
perial government is going to leave the coll
onies at the mercy Of the shipping or any
other trust. The discomfort is acute enough
now in many quarters of the empire. While
Great Britain does not want a commercial
war with the United States, she viii not
stand Indefinitely being shut out by the
American tariff wall while keeping open
house for American traders in the united
Kingdom. The question of retaliatory du-
ties is not so improbable as many people
imagine. There is no reason why the Brit
ish colonial markets should not be opened
to British goods on preferential basis.
been aSlpen for
long time, but when we wake up America
had better look out"
Sir Christopher Furness, who has been re-
ferred to as the possible head of the En-
gl1Sh 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
ter. but as he was addressing public
meeting he was not so outspoken as the
leading ship owner quoted above.