The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-09
FARRELL OPPOSES
ECONOMIC WARFARE
Tells Foreign Trade Council
Peace Terms Must Take
Care Of Conditions.
NEW TREATIES REQUIRED
Members Favor Legislation to
Put American Shipping on
Better Basis.

James A. Farrell, president OF the
United States Steel Corporation and
chairman OF the National Foreign Trade
Council. declared unqualifedly yester-
day against an economic war against
the Teutonic peoples after the termina-
tion Of the conflict of arms, He told
the delegates assembled a he councils
ffth annual meeting in the Biltmore
that IL the peace terms are satisfactory
there will be no need OF economic war
fare. and that on the other hand, II the
terms are not satisfactory economic
warfare will DO impossible" His re-
marks were applauded by the repn~
sentatves of the banking, manufactur-
Ing, farming, steamship and railroad in
terests from all over the country who
attended the conference
THE progress of the war; said Mr..
Farrell. has been marked by much dis
cussion OF proposals for and conditions
OF continuance OF the contest by eco
nomic forces after the military struggle
Is ended Our supreme duty Is to see
to 1t that the peace terms render i'm
possible the continuance OF conditions
sought to be corrected or prevented by
economic warfare
There are other problems which in
volve international relationship In their
effect upon our foreign trade. One Of
these, with which we will be much con-
cerned very soon after the restoration
OF peace. is that Of the negotiation of
new commercial treaties to replace those
that have been ruptured by the war or
have been denounced by the Govern
ments associated with us in the war"
An argument for the repeal OF the
La Fo rtte seaman's law prescribing
the number OF sailors to be employed
aboard a ship and fixing tho wages to
be paid them was advanced in a report
submitted by the committee on merchant
marine, which Is composed of Mr.. Far
rell, chairman: p. A. S. Franklin. presi-
dent OF the international Mercantile
Marine ana chairman Of the joint COM
mittee on shipping control. and Capt.
Robert Dollar, president of the Robert
Dollar Company of San Francisco. The
economic effect of the seaman's law, the
committee declared, would make impos-
sible the retention and operation Of the
newly constructed American merchant
marine under the American flag.
For one thing is absolutely sure"
said the report unless these vessels
can be operated profitably under the
American flag. either they will be trans
ferred to foreign registry, or they will
rust out useless existence which will
soon terminate on the scrap heap.
NO one contends or believes that 1t
Is not desirable to have American ves-
sells fully manned by competent crews
and to have American seamen enjoy the
best possible conditions of life and SER
vice. and receive in wages an ample re-
turn for their labor But 1t Is perfectly
obvious that provisions of law which
require American vessels to maintain
larger crews and to pay them higher
wages than is the case with foreign
vessels. necessarily subject such Amcri-
can vessels to n disadvantage which
renders it difficult II not impossible for
them to continue in operation against
the competition Of foreign vessels"
As an incident of the national agree
ment and settlements soon to be worked
out. the Committee on Merchant Ma
rine, recommended that the maritime ma
tons agree upon uniform shipping and
maritime regulations (which will impose
equal conditions and requirements upon
all alike" and insure that equality
which will give everyone fair chance"
The committee recommended that the
present accelerated programme" in the
construction OF steel ships he continued
fer a considerable time after the ter
mination of the war.
The Committee on Foreign Relations,
in its report, strongly urged prompt
economic assistance to Russia, and
asked for AN authoritative expression
from the Government Of its intention to
support foreign trade.
Among those who were present were
Fairfax Harrison of Richmond Va
president of the southern Railway: Alba
b Johnson of Philadelphia, president
Baldwin Locomotive Works: Frank 4.
Vanderlip, president National City
Bank +, A. s. Clarke, president Lacka-
wanna Steel Company w. H. Russo,
Memphis: f. Z. Thomas. president
United States Steel Corporation:
Thomas r Wilson and John ]. Arnold,
Chicago: NJ. +. Farr, president Ameri-
can Shipbuilding Company at Cleveland
Henry Howard, Boston; +, II. Huxley.
president United States Rubber Export
Company Howard Cole, Standard Oil
Company or New York; Maurice Costcr
Electric Company; NJ. A.
Oudin. General Electric Company
Charles NJ. Muchnic, American Locomo-
tive Sales Company; +. H. Taylor,
II. g. Lewis, National
Paper and Type Company; G. Y. Jen-
nnCs and Charles A. Schieren. Ir Dam
lei Warren, American Trading Company.
and Walter L. Clark. Portsmouth. n. H.