Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-08-31
GREAT BRITAIN AND
SHIPPING COMBINE
Much Speculation as to Mag
nate Morgan's Plans.
GENERAL SUBSIDY SCHEME.
imperial Governments Plan for Deal
Ing with Combination Is Awaited
with Intense nterest-Statement Of
Leading British Shipowner.


London. Aug. 30.-The approaching
expiration of the time limit for the
completion of the Atlantic shipping
combine is arousing the British press
to all sorts of speculation regarding
J. Pierpont Morgans ultimate plans
as well as the governments scheme
for dealing with the combination.
The promised statement of the pre-
mier on the re-assembling of parlia-
ment is awaited with intense inter
est The statement already has
been printed that the government
plans are complete and that the au
thoMties are all ready to make an et-
fectlve counter-move against the
American syndicate. Inquiries made
by the Associated Press in the best
informed quarters indicate that this
announcement is not true. The gov
ernment has had to deal with so many
powerful and conflicting interests that
it has not yet been able to definitely
decide on plan of action. In spite
of the opposition to a gen.
eral subsidy scheme well-lnform-
ed persons consider this to be
the most likely solution, on the
lines of a generous distribution Of
government support, not In behalf OF
one, but of several companies, The
form which such assistance will take
is still under discussion, there being
considerable opposition to straight
subsidies.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Bal
four's announcement will include
scheme for a direct, fast Canadian
service, in which the Canadian Pacific
railroad probably will participate, but
not, as originally planned as sJe
promoter and beneficiary. The indi'
cations 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 alleged lines and Elder, Dempster
& Co. The heads of the English
lines are chary in expressing them.
selves on the Atlantic outlook. Time
is rather intensifying than allaying
their jealousy of the Americans bid
for the Atlantic trade, and the gov
ernment has been so thoroughly stir.
red up that 1t will not leave a stone
unturned to allay the existing com.
mercial and colonial discomfort. In
this connection it may be mentioned
that the tariff dicussions at the re.
cent colonial conference were very
intimately connected with the shipping
situation. A leading shipowner and
a close friend of the colonial secre.
tary, Joseph Chamberlain, said to
representative of the Associat.
ed Press
America must not think that the
imperial government is going to leave
the colonies at the mercy of the ship.
ping or any other trust The dis
content is acute enough now in many
quarters Of the empire. While Great
Britain does not want a commercial
war with the United States, she Will
not stand indefinitely being shut out
by the American tariff wall while
keeping open house for American trad.
ers in the United Kingdom. The
question of retsllatory duties is not
so improbable as many people im.
agine. There Is no reason why the
British colonial markets should be
opened to British goods on a prefer.
entiRl basis. We have been asleep |
here in England 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 likely to purchase the Cunard !
feet as the nucleus Of a British ship
ping combine, limited at similar posi-.
bilities yesterday in his speech be.
fore the steamship meeting at Man.
chester, but as he was addressing a
public meeting he was not so out.
spoken as the leading shipowner
quoted above.