The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31
COMMERCIAL WAR
SEEMS PROBABLE
English Ire Aroused Over the
Impending Trust
SUBSIDY SCHEMEA REMEDY
While Great Britain Does Not Want
Trade War; She VIII Not Stand
Being Shut Out BY
High Tariff.

London, August s0.-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 ]. Pierpont Nor
gan's ultimate plans as well as the gov
ernment's scheme for dealing with the
combination.
The promised statement Of the premier
on the re-assembling of parliament Is
awaited with intense interest The state
ment already has been printed that the
government plans are complete and that
the authorities are all ready to make
an effective countermove against the
Amerisan syndicate.
Inquiries 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 1t has not yet been able to definitely
decide on a plan of action.
In spite Of the opposition to a general
subsidy scheme, well informed persons
consider this to be the most likely solu-
ton, on the lines of a generous distribu-
ton, of government support, not in be-
half of one but of several companies.
Fast Canadian Service.
The form which such assistance will
take Is still under discussion, there being
considerable opposition to straight sub
sides. There is no doubt that Mr.. Bal
tours announcement will include a
scheme for a direct, fast Canadian SER
vice, In which the Canadian Pacific rail-
road probably will 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 ear
lest expected is a combination of the
alleged line and Elder, Dempster & Co.
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 American
bid for the Atlantic trade and the gov
eminent has been so thoroughly stirred
up that it will not leave a stone I'M
turned to allay the existing commercial
and colonial discomfort
In this connection it may be mentioned
colonial conference were very intimately
connected with the shipping situation. A
leading ship-owner and close friend Of
the colonial secretary, Joseph Chamber
lain, said to a representative of the AS
ISOLATED Press:
Discomfort Acute.
America must not think that the i'm
perial 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 quarters of the en-
pire.
while Great Britain does not want a
commercial war with the United StateA
she will not stand indefinitely being shut
out by the American tariff wall while
keeping open house for American trad
ers in tho United Kingdom. The question
of retaliatory duties is not so improbable
as many people imagine. There is no
reason why the British colonial markets
should be opened to British goods on
preferential bssis, We have been asleep
here In England a 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
English financial syndicate, which is like
ly to purchase the Cunard fleet as the
nucleus of a British shipping combine
limited at similar possibilities yesterday
in his speech before the steamship meet
ing at Manchester, but as he was ad-
dressing a public meeting he was not
so outspoken as the leading ship owner
quoted above.