Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-02
ASK ENGLAND 70 ACT
Government OF Great Britain Re-
quested to Prevent the Ship.
ping Combine.
Attempt Made in the House OF
Commons to Secure a
Promise.
Leaders Point Out the Danger OF
Interference With Freedom
OF Trade.


commons Thursday questions Were
asked regarding the steamship COM
bine, and an effort was made to get the
government to pledge itself to prevent
the transfer of British steamships to q
foreign flag pending the report of the
committee recently appointed by the
admiralty to inquire into the subject.
The government leader, A. j. Balfour,
pointed out that suggestion of such a
startling character could not be carried
out without the gravest consideration.
II simply amounted to a proposal that
the government should prevent Brit
| ish subject from selling his property
| to a foreigner. No doubt the matter
referred to was very serious, but such
a drastic change in established practice
could not be undertaken lightly.
He quite appreciated the Importance
of the subject, and the desire OF the
members to discuss it, but no useful
purpose could be served by debate
now. The government had been pri-
vately informed regarding the actions
of private individuals, and 1T was CIV
ing the matter anxious consideration. IL
il disclosed this information, 1T would
rhut the door to further condolences.
The government would be bound to
make such arrangements with regard
to the navy as the proposed changes
might necessitate; but regarding the
effect of the combination on British
maritime interests, and what should be
done to meet it, no announcement OF It's
policy could be made, except after pro-
longed and anxious consideration OF the
complicated problem.
Hinder the present arrangements, the
subsidized ships remain in the service
of the admiralty for another two years,
and the government would be much
blamable If, in the interim, 1t could not
either negotiate continuance OF the
existing arrangements or make others
equally serviceable to the admiralty
and the country.
Meanwhile the government did not
pronose on the spur of the moment to
announce any departure from the ira
ditional policy of not interfering with
the freedom Of commerce. The min
listers would be charlatans II they ala
ANYTHING of the kind. 1t was neces-
sary most carefully and thoroughly tc
sift the whole matter, from CONNER
cial point of view. 1t must be remem-
bered that this was not commercial
enterprise engineered by a foreign and
hostile government, but trade COM
bination. Those who thought this
combination so menaced the commerce
of this country that the government NJ
should interfere We're admitting, |
whether they liked it or not, that the
doctrine of individual enterprise had |
broken down.
In reply to a question by Henry F.
Bowles, Mr.. Gerald Balfour, president |
of the board of trade, said the informa
alton received by the board of trade |
in regard to the combine was confiden- |
tial. He was not in a position to make |
any statement as to the precise terms
of the combine or as to the number Cd
vessels affected. At any rate no
change in the nationality Of the ships
was involved.
In reply to another question Mr.
Arnold Foster. parliamentary secre-
tary for the admiralty, said the White
Star line had apparently not departed
from the terms of its agreement with
the admiralty.
The Rt. Hon. James Bryce said no
one could blame the government TO,
speaking with the greatest caution
The house would be ready If legisla
ton were necessary to put aside other
business in order to deal with matters
Of such vast commercial Importance.
Lord Charles Beresford said he
feared the American trust would use
the combination to pour American pro-
luce into this country to the disad-
of English producers. He
suggested that Great Britain should
steamships to be built for
Canadian route.
According to the Liverpool Post
ne-third of the G34,O0O,00O capital Of
he shipping combine will be required I,
% liquidate the White Star line inter
,sts. The paper also says that a sub
'tantial proportion of the preference
hares Will be handed over to the own.
RS OF the White Star line who viii; !,
llso get 100000 in cash from the
ales of the debentures.