Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-28
Great Britaims Naturalization of Her shipping
and How 1t Will Affect the Commerce of the World
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

M ACCUMULATION OF BRITISH
IM shipping is the latest move in
u u England's war measures that
may influence her national policy
when the war is over. 1t should not be con-
fused with the acts of the British ad-
miralty in the temporary means which
the sea lords take from time to time
as emergency arises, though it is part
of the general policy, and the admiral
ty co-operates with the minister of ma
rine in the various measures
The step recently taken is in line with the
policy under which the railways were ma
tionalized and taken over by the govern
ment the day following the declaration of
war. The naturalization of the mines
was another measure to assure Britain
the control of her primary resources
as well as to overcome a difficult labor
situation. The naturalization of the
munitions factories was a further step
in placing all the Industrial resources
Of the United Kingdom at the immedi-
ate disposition of the government.
The naturalization of shipping in
many respects is the most advanced
step that England has taken. 1t might
almost be said to be step in inter-
national naturalization, since the Brit
ish government co-ordinates its ship
ping with the shipping of France and
Italy, which are the allies that have
carrying trade that is of consequence.
The details of the war powers of the
ministry of marine and of the orders in
council issued by the government in
order to make effective the control of
81 Ill u
side of the water. They may be sum-
med up in the statement that England
now takes absolute control of the
greatest merchant fleet that the world
has ever known.
In the earlier days of the war vessels
which constituted the auxiliary navy
were taken over at once, and then nu-
merous other vessels were comman-
deered as transports for soldiers and
for munitions and animals. All this was
done under the immediate direction of
the admiralty.
The handspring of some recent moves,
such the action of the admiralty in
forbidding British subjects to charter
a foreign ship without obtaining per-
mission from the government. is uT-
doubtedly to aid|the government in OBJ
tanning ships for moving troops aid
military supplies, but there is broader
purpose in the complete naturalization
of the Shipping. This. undoubtedly. is to
insure England's foreign commerce
keeping us supremacy Wnth the war Is
ended, as well as to obtain supplies
during the continuance of hostilities.
Persons who do not follow interna-
tional trade movements fail to realize
that British commerce, until recently,
has not suffered severely on account of
the war. In spite of the number of in
dustrial plants that have been turned
into munition works, the vast body of
British industry has not been. affected.
1t has continued to make goods for all
the world, and 1t would not continue to
make them unless the worlds markets
were kept open.
This, in particular, has been true of
the market for textiles and various
commodities which England supplied to
South America and to her own colonies
and possessions. 1t also has been true of
her market in the United States. Some
vessels with cargoes of merchandise
were lost, but they were relatively un-
important compared with the cargoes
Of war supplies which she was import
ing.
In November a change was noted,
and, with the summing up of whole
years foreign commerce. 1t was found
that there had been a material de-
crease In tonnage, both Of ships enter
ing and of ships clearing. Then came