The sun., 1902-04-25
INVESTIGATING SHIP DEAL.
HRITISH ADMIRALTY TO Pro-
TECT ITS INTERESTS.
Announc cement Made I'm the House Of Com.
mons-Nir. Baifour Sayp Time Is Not
Ripe for General Trust Investigation
-Rumors Of the Combines Plans.

Spsoial Cab, Despdiehes 10 THE SUN.
LONDON, April 2i.-Severa questions
were raised In the House of Commons this
afternoon In regard to the shipping combina-
ton and it's possible effect on the navy in
time OF war MIR Arnod-Forster, Parlia-
mentary Secretary for the Admiralty.
said. in reply TO these questions. that the
Admiralty " az considering lts arrangements
with cert ain lines in regard TO using their
ships in time OF war and in regard TO the
subsidy paid by the Government.
Mr. Forster said the question OF whether
the Admiralty had at its disposal practical
means of enforcing the right OF preempting
or hiring these ships in case OF war was an
important one IL was serious legal
point which was being carefully considered
by the Admiralty with a view OF definitely
deciding the rights Of the Government in the
premises.
The present situation caused by Ameri-
cans buying up British lines had not been
contemplated when the arrangement be-
tween the Admiralty and the transatlantic
companies had been made. The Admiralty.
he said. had appointed a committee TO
consider the matter. Meanwhile an ar
rangement had been made TO prevent tho
White Star Line from being transferred
10 a foreign flag without the consent OF the
Admiralty.
Mr.. Gerald Balfour, in reply to a question
by Thomas Gibson Bowles. member for
Lynn Regis, said that II British vessels had
been sold TO a company having It's principal
place Of business in the United States they
would lose their British registry.
Mr. Balfour also said that he did not think
the time was ripe in Great Britain for q
discussion of the question OF trusts or the
application for the appointment OF COM
mission to investigate them.
The Westminster Gdxstte says: We learn
on good authority that the Admiralty has
taken action in regard to the combine.
The present uncertain position Of the Gu
nard and other companies outside the oom-
bine il due to negotiations With the Ad-
miralty.'
Forty members Of the House OF Com
mons have held a meeting and adopted Z
resolution declaring that IL 10 advisable u
establish Ministry Of Commerce. II ID
understood that the desire for such q min
istry Is largely aotuated by the develop
ments OF American enterprise In Great
Britain, especially the shipping eombina'
ton.
LONDON. April 2S.-Every newspaper ex'
presses satisfaction with the Government
intimation that action is being taken in the
shipping deal The Standard recalls the
fact that the old restrictions against alisr
ownership Of vessels sailing under the
British flag are not yet swept away ever
II they are practically evaded.
The Telegraph ssys: 1T would be idle Il
attempt 70 disguise the disquiet with which
an authoritative pronouncement by th'
Admiralty IL awaited On tho business
side the Telegraph does not object to th'
merger, the British. American and Ger
man lines being placed on an absolute
equality. but 1t says that politically th'
case Il far different. The Germans snjo!
the benefit Of the combination withou
risking sweeping transfers to . foreis'
flag. The paper fails to understand wh.
the British were unable to make the sam
terms.
The Financial Ners recommends tha
mail subsidies be confined to I'm glish com
panies, that the cruiser subsidies be In
creased and that dinsrential shipping due
be introduced. favoring British ship'
throughout the empire.