New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-13
WAR RISKS STILL
A BAR TO MARINE
Ttade RepresentativesSay
Registry Law Is Not
Enough.
INSURANCE ALSO
MUST BE PROVIDED
Shipments Committee Outlines
Contraband and Liability
to Capture.

While representative industrial or
Plantations concerned in the work Of
believing the congestion OF foreign
Arade due to the European war felt
yesterday that the frat big step had
tbeen taken in the passage of the ship
registry bill by the Senate, they
pointed out the necessity Of the gov
ernments assuming war insurance
risks before the export trade could
be substantially resumed.
The committee appointed by the Ma
tional Foreign Trade Council, Of
which James A. Farrell, president Of
the United States Steel Corporation,
is chairman, met yesterday. Besides
Mr.. Farrell, the members Of the COM
mittee are p. A. s. Franklin, vice
president Of the international Mer-
camille Marine; 4. A. S. Clarke, pres
ident of the Lackawanna Steel Com
pany; John d. Ryan, president Of the
Amalgamated Copper Company; +. 2.
Thomas. president of the United States
Steel Products Company, and Willard
Straight, president Of the American
Asiatic Association.
After the meeting the committee is
sued the following statement:
"A survey of the situation strength
ened the committees conviction that,
even with many foreign-built vessels
available to American register, the
movement OF American exports will
still be retarded il the present DIM
Guilty of obtaining war risk insurance
on American hulls and their cargoes
continues. It was thought that the
registration Of foreign-built ships
would not relieve the situation unless
reasonable insurance were provided.
The council already has expressed IT.
self in favor Of the United States gov
ernment's providing this war risk m
surance.
Want Ships Bought Abroad.
Information reaching the council
shows that scarcely less important IS
.he necessity that the operation Of the
shin registry bill, after it is signed by
the President, shall be accompanied
by regulations assuring the eXpedi-
tious transfer to American register OF
foreign-built vessels purchased by
Americans while such vessels are IN
foreign ports
This question of government war in
surance is expected TO be taken up az
the special meeting Of the Chamber oil
Commerce to-day and Will probably
be discussed at the export business
conference with Secretary McAdoo OF
The Treasury Department in Washing
ton. tomorrow.
The special committee on shipments
during the European war of the Cham
her of Commerce met yesterday and
issued a statement OF Information to
American shippers" which was IN part
"The liability Of goods shipped by
American merchants to be captured as
prizes of war depends on the destlna-
ton Of the goods; the ownership o.
the goods. actual or presumptiye, after
shipment; the character Of the goods,
whether contraband or not, and the
nationality OF the carrier.
Goods shipped by American ship
pers to a neutral destination are *
empt from capture, whether shipped
on an American or other neutral ship
or on a belligerent ship.
Must Prove Destination.
"The only exception to this rule is
where the goods, though shipped to a
neutral destination, are inteItad 20 &c
transshipped or forwarded to hostile
destination fact which tn captor
must prove in order to jultify the
capture.
shipments by Americans made in
good faith to neutralS in a neutral port
can never be considered contraband;
it is the destination of the goods and
not their character which makes them
contraband.
"The title to goods shipped on the
basis OF cost, insurance and freight,
or cost and freight. ordinarily vests
in the buyer on shipment. If suca
goods are consigned to a belligercnt
port they at once become the enemy's