Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-03
BELGIANS WANT
WORLDS SHIPPING
Government Authorities Plan
Big Ocean Carrying Com
pany for Peace Days.
AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM

Correspondence Of The Associated Press.)
Havre, France, Sept. 20-The Bel
gian authorities here are going ahead
with the formation Of an extensive
government shipping organization
known as the Royal Belgian Lloyd
which they expect to take rank with
the principal ocean-carrying organiza-
tons now in existence. OF the $40, 00O,.
600 capital, all OF which has been
paid in, the Belgian government has
subscribed $l5,000000 and has guaran-
teed the payment of the bonds on the
concern.
Already thirty-ninc steamers have
been acquired and an ambitious pro-
gram OF buying and building is laid
out for the next five years, notwith-
standing that Belgium is supposed to
be at present PROSTATE under German
domination.
The Belgian organization is some
thing like the new American ship
plug measure, Each is measure for
developing the merchant marine Of
the country, and each has the principle
OF private operation OF the ships, with
government surveillance over the adj
ministration. II the measure had
gone before the Belgian parliament
there would probably have been a
long debate, as there was in the Amer
lean congress. But with the Belgian
parliament scattered, the Belgian ex-
ecutive authorities took the more
expeditions means OF issuing a decree
which fully constitutes the shipping
concern and establishes all the main
details Of organization.
American Suggestion.
The need OF ships to bring Ameri-
can relief supplies was the immediate
cause for the formation OF the Bel
gian company, although once formed
for this purpose it has now taken
on much larger dimensions as one Of
Belgian weapons in the economic and
trade struggles growing out OF the
war.
With the great Belgian shipping
port of Antwerp occupied by the Ger
mans, the headquarters of the new
company had to be at the little port
Of La Parme on the short stretch o.
sea front still held by the Belgian
army lying west Of the User river
The organizers have been Bel
gian refugees in London and Paris
lwho had formerly been the chief bank
ers and shipping merchants OF Ant
werp. These were Arthur F. Byrs
Henry NJ. Gyesen. Armand Griser
Emile Deckcrs and John Schobbens
former shipping merchants Of Ant
werp, now living In London; ant
Hector earlier and Henri Borgcrs
former Antwerp bankers, now living
In London and Paris.
The government decree, confirming
the act oi organization, makes ths
concern Belgian in every respect "ant
shall remain essentially Belgian" al
the officers and directors must be Bel
gians Contracts are prohibited which
would permit the concern to pass into
foreign hands, or be controlled by
foreigners. No stakeholder can vote
as the representative OF foreigne
or under foreign influence, Belgiai
exports and imports are guaranteed
as favorable treatment as is given L
foreign products. Freight rates ar,
to be reduced one-half on sample!
Of Belgian commerce and industr,
sent abroad in soliciting trade.
/ The decree also provides that Bel
gian sailors shall be employed as fal
as available: Belgian passengers shall
have the fullest facilities, and Belgian
ports favored as far as possible il
traffic arrangements. The foreigl
| agencies are to be run by Belgians
and two government commissioner
are to watch over this Belgian, char
acter of the organization. .Withou
| the consent Of these government Of
| ficers, the society is specially forbid
/ den from taking subsidy from |
4 foreign government.
i At a meeting held later at L,
| Parme, the organizers above name,
! At a meeting held later at L
| Parme the organizers above name,
were included number Of "tramps,
particularly useful just now whei
regular trade routes are interrupted
| The purpose, however, is to secur,
liners for competition in the regula
transatlantic service, which Is ex
peccted to take on large diaens1b n
as soon as the war reopens the oil,
trade routes and ports. With thirty
nine steamers already secured an
three planned for early building, thi
new Belgian government STEAMSHIP
service is making good start to &C
complish its end Of having Belgiai
merchant fleet representing 10000
Il tonnage. which will compare favor
ably with some the Oldest and bes