New-York tribune., 1920-11-08

vessels to any foreign country that
wants direct trade with Canada.
The government Of Australia is also
active in the operation Of its own ton
mage, but its plans have not vet
reached the ambitious stage Of those
Of the Dominion government.
What shipping men regard as the
most important phase Of the matter
however, is that the chief competitor
of the American merchant marine bid,
fair to be not Great Britain, but the
British Empire. With imperial pref
ercnce as a weapon The British will be
in strong maritime position through
granting preferential duty on British
goods carried between British coun-
tries. The American merchant marine
act goes this plan one better by giving
preference to goods carried to and
from American ports in American bot
toms. Strong British protests have
been made against these provisions of
the bill, despite British insistcnce on
the extension Of the principle Of i'm
perlal preference. In other words,
American shipping interests point out,
Britain believes in her own brand Of
discrimination, but not in the other
fellows. President Wilson's refusal to
enforce the criminatory provisions
Of the Jones act have therefore met
with approval overseas. What attitude
the new President Will take, however.
is another matter.
Too Many or Too Few Ships
There arrived here on the White Star
built her. Lord Pirre, head Of the Bel
fast firm Of Harland & Wolf.
During the war Lord Pirrie was
Comptroller of British Shipbuilding.
Shortly after the arnistice he declared
that all the world building at top speed
for five years to come could not pro-
duce an oversupply of shipping
This prophecy is interesting in view
OF the fact shipping men generally are
agreed that there is now an oversupply
of shipping and point to the decline in
freights and ship prices as proof of
the assertion. There are reasons for
estimate is not at fault, and that the
present oversupply is only a temporary
condition.
TO begin with, the surplus is in
cargo carriers only. With \ return to
the normal in production Of countries
affected by the war and the restoration
Of trade relations with Russia, use for
a much greater volume Of tonnage will
be created Britain's inability to ex-
FOrt coal and Cne 1AllUre or the united
States to produce enough to make up
the shortage are also factors in re-
ducing the employment Of cargo space.
Aside from the situation regarding
freighters, it is apparent that there is
still marked shortage in tankers and
passenger liners, and this will increase
with the increasing use of oil for ma
rine fuel and the opening up Of new
tides of emigration, especially from
Germany, Russia and the surrounding
countries.
1t is the oil problem, that has brought
Lord Pirrie to America. Whether the
rapid and widespread movement from
coal to oil is justified depends upon
whether adequate deliveries OF oil can
J be guaranteed over period Of years.
and it is to investigate the resources Of
the United States and Mexico in this
direction that Lord Pirrie has come.
That American ship owners do not fear
the exhaustion Of supplies is evidenced
by the fact that Of the ships building
for private account in American Yards
to-day less than 2 per cent are being
constructed TO burn coal exclusively.