New-York tribune., 1918-12-26
Official Sanction
Of |. WI. WI. Deal Is
Denied by Britons
Maritime Circles Start Agita-
ton to Prevent Transfer
TO American Registry
BY F. w. Wray
Mem YorIe Tribune
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LONDON, Dec. 25.-A sudden wave
Of antagonism is manifested by the
British press toward the international
Mercantile Marine deal.
"The Globe" says;
"As the facts have been consider
ably distorted by the American press
it is we'll that the British public should
learn how the matter really stands.
The move on the part of the American
Shipping Board was purely CONNER
cial deal, not preceded by any consulta-
tion whatever between the two govern
mcnts. The Shipping Board may pur-
chase the shares Of the International
Mercantile Marine, but the transfer
does not in any way affect the status
Of the companies or their ships, which
are manned by British crews and un-
der British management by virtue Of
the agreement of August J., 1903, which
still has several years to run.
Strong Protest Expected
with the transfer of the shares of
the International Mercantile Marine to
the hands of the United States Ship
ping Board, it is undoubtedly their
wish to change the registry Of the YES
sells now flying the British flag and
take over the entire management.
Strong pressure will likely be used in
government circles on this side toward
IL,
that the British government will agree
to such suicidal course. however
anxious it may be to crafty America,
for the question at stake is q vital one
and of supreme national Importance.
"Aftcr the British navy the Mercan-
tile Marine has borne the heaviest bur
den throughout the war and has lost
so many of its finest vessels in the ser
vice of the Allies that it cannot be
thought that pressure will be put on
our government to allow the control
Of the ships about to be purchased to
pass to another government particu-
larly the United States, whose ship
ping business is immcasurably better
now than at the beginning of the war.
Might Divert Ships
at may be urged that the larger
vessels included in the deal continue
to use the same ports for which they
were built, as they are probably un-
suitable for calling at other ports If,
however, the control passed into Amer
lean hands, it is likely that a number
of the smaller vessels will be diverted
to other trade routes and in course of
time manned by American crews in
stead Of British
"The deal between the United States
Shipping Board and the international
Mercantile Marine will emphasize the
fact that it is an entirely commercial
affair and that there was no Diplomatic
action whatever, the British govern
ment not having been officially ap-
preached or consulted in any way on
the statement that the two govern
ments were in complete agreement on
the terms of sale
Sentiment Not Involved
"Therefore it cannot, obviously, be
construed as meaning that they are
agreeable in handing over the control
of the ships to America and changing
their registry.
From exhaustive inquiries in ship
ping circles it is learned that there are
no grounds for believing that the gov
ornment would give way in matter
of such vital Importance as our Mer-
MANTLE Marine and national commerce
out of mistaken sentiment"