Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-05-12
WON'T Be FRIGHTENED
BRITISH LEADERS AND
STEAMSHIP COMBINE
Government Finds Nothing to Warrant
Its Taking Hand In Affair."
No Obligations
Violated.

made in the House of Commons today
60 get the Government to pledge it.
gel. to prevent the transfer of British
ste amships to a foreign flag, pending
tho report of the committee, under the
workmanship of Lord Camperdown,
recently appointed by the Admiralty
to enquire into the subject.
Inc Government leader, Mr.. Balfour
Iuinted out that a suggestion of such
n startling character could not be car
lied out without the gravest consider
rtion. It simply amounted to a propo
sal that the Government should pre-
vent a British subject from selling his
property to a foreigner. No doubt the
matter referred to was very serious,
but such a drastic change in estab
Ished practice could not be undertake
IN lightly.
London, May AFTER the president
Of the Board OF Trade, Mr.. Gerald Bal
-four, had informed the House of Com.
T.Uns this afternoon that he had been
cCnfiddntially informed of the terms OF
the proposed Transatlantic combine,
which did not necessarily involve
change in the nationality of the ships,
ana the Government leader MIR. Bal.
four, had announced that the officials
u the White Star Line did not appear
TO have violated their contract with
the British Admiralty. Mr.. Rea (Radi.
CAD, Il ship-owner and merchant. NOV.
ed the adjournment of the House. in
o. der to discuss the matter, which
vas of urgent public Importance.
! few members having spoken OF
the great anxiety experienced through.
out the country as the result of the for.
nation of a combine of such strength
~ the American shipping syndicate.
Mr.. Balfour expressed the hope that
the debate would be closed. He quite
appreciated the importance of the sub,
Jcct, and the desire OF the members to
discuss ii. But no useful purpose
ctuld be served by debate now. The
Government had been privately in.
formed regarding the action of private
Individuals, and was giving the matter
arXious consideration: but If II dis.
Closed the information. II would shut
the door to further confidence. The
Government would be bound to make
such arrangement with regard to the
Navy as the proposed changes might
.iccessitate. but, regarding the effect
Of the combination on British marine
Interests, and what should be done to
meet II, no announcement of its policy
could be made, except after prolonged
and anxious consideration of the com.
rlicated problem. Under the present
al rangements the subsidized ships re.
main in the service of the Admiralty
for another two years. and the Govern.
ment would be much bamable II, in
the interim, 1t could not further nego.
iiate continuance OF the existing ar.
raEgements or make others equally
SGrviceable to the admiralty and the
country, In the meantime, the Gov.
Crhment did not propose on the spur
OF the moment. to announce any de-
rarture from the traditional policy of
not interfering with the freedom of
commerce. The Ministers would be
charlatans II they did anything of the
kind. II was necessary to most care.
fully and thoroughly slit the whole
matter from a commercial point OF
view. II must be remembered that
t. is was not a commercial enterprise,
engineered by foreign and hostile
government. but trade combination.
Those who said that this combine so
mcnaced the commerce Of the country
that the Government should interfere,
we're admitting whether they liked it
or not, that the doctrine of individual
enterprise had broken down.
Mr.. Bryce UiberaD. former Presi.
dent of the Board of Trade, advocated
tho withdrawal of the motion but urg.
CT the Government to make a prompt
inquiry into the subject.
Other speakers held that the ar.
rahgcment was in no way unpatrotic:
t. waa an alliance; not annexation by
Americans. The companies simply
rrude a reasonable and business.likG
Sir Joseph Woodhouse OiberaD
disclaimcd all antlpathy to or illfecl.
ing for Americans, but asserted that
Pritish maritime and mercantile in.
.""ests were menaCed by the AmerI.
ems, who had already captured the
British shoe and steel industries, and
! z wanted the Government to take
sCtion in order to stem the tide.
The remaRks of Rear Admiral Lord
Charles DeresfOrd (COnEoryatiyal