New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
DIVERGENT GERMAN VIEWS.

Berlin April 26-Herr Baln director general OF
the Hamburg american Line and Herr Wiegand.
director general OF the North German Lloyd Line.
reassuring the perturbed shareholders Of their
companies that when they the text OF the agree
OF the Anglo-American shipping combination
IT will be perceived that the German lines. instead
of being overreached by J. PierpOnt Morgan. have
really strengthened their position enormously The
conditions OF the contract leave the German lines
free TO expand. guaranteeing for period OF years
the certainty OF good dividends The German news
papers here have been reproducing Newly ork dis
patches giving the view th1t the combination has
thrown into American hands the mastery OF the
transatlantic traffic.
Statements issuing from Bremen and hamburg
give a different idea. These point out that one side
OF Mr. Morgau's combination consists OF young
American lines. and the other of old British lines
which are gradually being forced into inferior
position by the German lines which for the last
six years have almost doubled their passenger ana
freight traffic largely at the expense or the Bri'iSh
lines The latter were forced to do something TO
meet the German rivalry. and Mr.. Morgan had
fairly easy work in bringing them in as whole
The aggregation does not equal the tonnage OF the
two German companies. and Mr. Morgan mad 10
accept the terms laid down bv Ilerren Balln and
Wiegand or see the combination threatened with
severe competition.
The weightlest financial voice IN Germany. the
"Frankfurter Zetung. says:
1t is to be feared that the American management
standpoints TO consider. might easily misuse the
power guaranteed TO It, precisely through the sup
port OF the German companies, 10 the disadvantage
OF shippers and passengers therefore,. II IL eSpc-
cIally Important to know under what condltloIlS
the German companies have reserved the right 10
withdraw While flal Judgment as to the advan-
Ia ges and disadvantages OF the combination Is I'M
nossiha tf the conditions known. STILL Tor the
present the whole combination creates an impress
that he advantages lie FAR more on Mr
Morgan's side than on the German side.
Herr Frese a member OF the Reichstag. from
Bremen who has special acquaintance with ship
ping affairs in defending the agreement IN the
Rechstag, said:
One OF my friends. who has just been 10 the
United states studying shipping affairs says that
one OF the most prominent American snip owners
eynressIy admitted that the German commercial
marine was far in advance OF the conmerciai ma
rtne OF all other countries in the construction OF
vessels ofcering provisions. safety and especially
discipline on board. This superiority Will remain
permanent in view OF the American enorts 10
Combine a number of large steamship companies
fnr uniform action in the freight and passenger
business the controlling motive has been the lacI
that the North German Lloyd and Hamburg Amer
team cornpanies have great advantage over many
foreign lines In class ships. excellent orSanlLi-
tion and splendid discipline The working or the
tIyo Gerrnan companies has been much praised, ana
tbe,, Yera able to easily maintain German indie
feve mas occurred. The pessimistic views ABOUT
Tho which expressed in a SectlOn or the
press lack any Justification
The financial editor OF the National Zeitung
does not share the suspicious attitude of the
.Eronkfi,rter Zeitung" believing that the terms
ofYered TO the German lines are most favoraDle ana
tbat ADJ connection with American rdl-
roads rendered cooperation with the ComDinatlon
necessary to the Germans