New-York tribune., 1920-10-06
Foreign Interests Fight.
ing Agreement, A Benson
Says, 10 Keep America
OFF the North Atlantic
Board Vacancies
Delaying Action
Expect More Opposition
to Proposed Deal Viii,
North German Llovd

from The Trfbane'S Wasiington R,vec.,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-An-
proval of the agreement between the
American Ship and Commerce Cor
poratlon, Of which w. A. Hartman
IS president, and the Hamburp-
American Line will not be given h,,
the United States Shipping Board
until after President Wilson has an
pointed members to fill the six
vacancies on the board and the err
tire board can pass upon it, Admiral
W. 5. Benson, chairman of the
board, announced to-day.
The impression that the board
already had approved the agree
ment is false, Admiral Benson said
and grew out of the fact that he a.
chairman of the board had an
nounced that he personally approved
of it, and that he wanted to see it.
so through.
Benson Defends Agreement
Admiral Benson went to tbe ds.
fense Of the agreement TODAY He
said he would do all he could to have
the agreement concluded. Ee de-
clsred that it was being opposed by
foreign interests in this coun-
try that wanted to make iust such
contract with the Hambure-Amer-
lean Line themselves, and expressed
the opinion that if the pendinp
agreement was carried jnto effect -
would establish the American mer.
chant marine in the North Atlantic
The agreement between the Harri-
man company and the Hamburg-Am Amefi.
can has never been approved by the
Ahipplng Board Admiral Benson said
1T viii not be acted upon by the board
until the full membership Of the hoard
has been appointed.
But want to say that I viii push
It oil | can in the mean time. As chair
man Of the board. I have given if NV
pefsonal approval as chairman. and be
lleve that it is the greatest tainr that
can be done to establish The American
merchant marine.
Inc very ferceness Of The attacks
made upon the agreement indicates its
value to American shipping" said ADJ
mira. Benson. lie added THAI he ca
poets the same kind Of opposition to
the pending agreement with the North
German Lloyd Line. which is now be-
fore the Shipping Board.
These two agreements. Admiral Ben
son said, would give the United States
a chance to compete for the North
Atlantic passenger traffic Those op-
posing the agreements want TO pre-
vent this
If the agreement between the Harri-
nan company and the Hambarr-Amer-
lean Line was wiped out, Admiral
Benson said, the United states would
have no chance Of establishing herself
IN the North Atlantic shipping
have every confidence in Mr.. Har-
rlman as a full -blooded American citi-
zen," Admiral Benson continued. 1T
was not necessary for him to risk his
seems 70 ne that every real American
should commend him in 'hc risks be
IS taking IN ms attempts 20 develop
American shipping. There is no other
motive he could have in putting his
money and efforts into 'his proposition
ana he mas my support as chairman
OF the Shipping Board"
French Objections Denied
Admiral Benson denied that France
had made any formal objection to the
pending agreements.
The chairman also emphaticallv de
clared that he did not believe arr ad-
d uonal memoranda TO those fled with
the board by Mr.. Hartman ard con
cernlng the agreement with the Ham
purg-Amercan Line exist, as charged
by Messrs. Kerr and Cleeg.
Kermit Roosevelt, who retired as AZ,
rector of the American Shin and Com
Inerce Corporation at the time General
george w Goethals withdrew from tie
negotiations with the Hamburg-Aner-
lcan Line. called upon Admiral Benson
at the Shipping Board Offices to-dav
it was only after much consultation
with General Coethals and Mr.. Ciero
regarding the nature of the proposed
hamburg. American alliance and the
doubtful allegiance in the American
snip and Commerce Corporation that [
concluded the only course open was
designation from the company" said
Mr.. Roosevelt.
That | did not decide pom this with
cut due delberation and thorough
knowledge of the preliminary contract
may be seen from the fact that as sec
retary OF the company ! was called upon
IN my official capacity 20 attest the
authenticity OF Harriman's signature
@. the preliminary contract. felt that
without General Goethais and Mr.
Ciegg American interests would have
little hope for protection in the subse-
quent and final contracts What | Nave
since seen has, in my judgment. proved
conciuslvely the correctness OF my de-
cision."
Admiral Benson. while Withholding
any comment on the indictment Of tbe
Fox-Kaiser concern by the Federal
grand jury in New York TO-DAY. an
nounced that he recently had appointed
a corr mittee 10 make a. Thorough inveS-
tigaton of the manage - 81 sains al
located by the Shipping Board vheaa