The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-06-26

r7ntn the League Of Nations has
nroved its efficiency and until nations
arc ready to disarn. no nation VIII. II
II can prevent 1t, reCklCSSly turn over
its sea transportation to another nation
This lesson has been strongly impressed
on all nations by the war. As Il result,
every nation with sea interests VIII
strive for a merchant marine Of the big
gest size.
II Is inevitable that there will be an
oyer-production Of ships--that is. TIC
nations will duplicate in shipbu!ldIng'
and in few years there will l." more
ships than are actually needed Tor IN"
carving work Of the world Ships VIII
then become a less desirable and less
Drofltabke investment. and in an effort
10 adjust matters, old and bad forms or
control and combination may occur.
In any. event, under such conditions
TRANSFORMATION rates will be extremely
low at one time and extremely high at
other times. according as tho temporary
necessity for ship transportation IS
pressing or otherwise. So tho business
like thing to do is TO try to forcS"" what
Is likely TO happen and to work out some
form Of international cooperation that
will avoid these dangers
If we use our ship power regardless
Of the needs Of the othe rnatlons. that
is, without a busincsslikc. generous IN
ternational agreement. We shall not only
fail to reap the expected advantages
from Il but we shall cndanger the peace
OF the world.
More than that. we hav" won our
shipping superiority largely while other
nations were fighting our war. and # ""
use II without regard to them. then ""
shall be IN great danger Of making tn"
world believe that we were inSinccrc in
our statement Of our war aimS-almS
for which we were willing 10 Sacriii""
the lives Of our soldiers and for which
v,e should not now hesitate to use EcnI
erously our economic advantages
Let Us illustrate this point by on" cx-
ample. Britain fought our war for us
for three years and fought our war
with US for a year and half moro. She
Maid tho cost in more than million
dead, she lost mVh of her shipping and
her financial supremacy, she lost an I'M
portant part OF her foreign trade and Sh"
came to the end OF tho war sadly do
pleted in ships and temporarily weak
ened by the men and money cost OF the
war in rccuperativc power.
To US in tho United States SHIPS moan
nfe. Britain has not at any tim" over
few months food on hGut. :rI 'niA a
limited part Of tho raw materials on
which her financial and business life de-
pen6 originates IN tn" British Isles. If
our ocean transportation wcr" cut ~
VIC should lsc business ard money II
Britain's ocean transportation wCr" cut
of we might perish. We IN III" lnit"d
States can Afford to tx" como chances
as to ships. Britain cannot.
Picture wildly Hrtain'S position. DO
cause thai position and what il properly
implies is the keynote "f tn" lii"rna-
tional problem Of mcrCantll" marine.
and will force on US a long and mutually
harmful struggle If "" Il" r"t. with
busincSslikc vision and SympaIh''ic uu-
dcrstanding avert 1t 10y pruncr mt rna-
tional corporation.
We emphasize this not primnr''y 10
protect Britain. W" emphasize II /" pro-
tect in the first place. th.' h"urr md
in the second place tn" business pros
perity Of our own Cmrrlir". What ""
have said Of Great Britain arNli"s III
VARYING degree To- tho other nations and
makes II a matter "f imp"rtan"" 20 us
TO consider their shipping interest also
in determining our merchant marine
policy.
The war demonstrated tn" business
vision ability. san" ideals and cood will
Of American business mon. These quail