New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
Shipping Grant
Offered to u. S.
Sought Abroad
Interests i'm Other Nations
Seek Ham burg Line
Concessions Now Being
Considered, Says Benson
For American Trade Only
New Board Chairman Says
He Would Not Let Any
Foreigner Obtain Control

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 26.-Rear Ad-
n,iral William S. Benson, U. S. N, re-
tired, chairman of the Shipping Board,
said to-day that efforts we're being
made by shipping interests in other
countries to get the concessions in
ur.-Amcrican Line which recently
were offered to the United States and
are still under consideration. He in
timated that he anticipated lively prop
aganda on the part of the foreign in
terests to prevent acceptance by the
United States of the proposal pre-
sented by agents of the German COR
Germ.
Admiral Benson said that if the pro-
posal should be accepted, every effort
would be made to make sure that the
operating companies did not in any
way come under German influence or
control and that they would develop
the routes as permanent assets of the
American merchant marine. 1t is
probable that seized German merchant
liners of the Hamburg American and
other German lines would be used in
the service, if the plan is approved.
"You may be sure" he added, chat
we have ~. intention of putting our
ships under German control--or for
cgn control of ay other kd."
Effect. of Acceptance
Discussing the effect which accep-
tance of the proposal would have,
Admiral Benson said
"The proposition, as it has thus far
come to US, is somewhat indefinite as
to terms, but it will be given serious
consideration. The public may feel
certain, however, that if we approve
the plan we shall see to it that the
companies operating the Shipping
Board vessels on these routes will not
only be strictly American concerns,
with sufficient financial stability to
handle the business properly, but will
be companies that intend establishing
these routes as permanent assets Of
the American merchant marine and
eventually will buy the ships which we
allocate to them for that purpose. Our
job, as I see it. is to bend every effort
marine under private ownership. l am
opposed to the idea of government
ownership and operation, and desire to
see our ships pass into ,tivate Ameri-
can hands as rapidly as It is safe to let
them.
"Realizing the war is over, we must
look to see competition from foreign
shipping interests as keen as ever be-
fore, and the use of propaganda, as
developed during the war to fine art,
we may naturally suppose will be en-
plOyed IN the same measure in this
rivalry"
Holds First Conference
Admiral Benson held to-day the first
of a series of regular conferences
which members Of the Shipping Board
MI ,;+l,
sentatives of the various operating
companies for the purpose of insuring
greater cooperation in the permanent
upbuilding of this country's shipping.
Among the matters being taken up, he
stated, was the question of freight
rates, a matter of increasing impor-
tance in view of the growing competi-
ton of foreign shipping interests. No
definite program, however, was reached
at to-day's conference
Admiral Benson said he had received
no official confirmation of the report
that the British government was con-
templating a demand on this govern
ment for damages growing out of the
delay IN turning over to Great Britain
the ex-German liner lmperator. This
vessel, along with others taken from
Germany under the terms of the armis-
tice, was allocated to the United States
1Or the repatriation OF the American
army, with the understanding that as
soon as this service had been per-
formed she would be turned over to the
English.
The chairman denied vigorously
published report intimatng it to be
his policy to appoint ex-o7icers of the
army and navy to important posts in
the Shipping Board oIganization. On
the contrary, he said that the appoint
ments of General Back, former chief
OF engineers of thc army; Captain
Hanrahan and Captain Foley were
made before his appointment, and said
that he had established it as his pol
icy not to appoint any more former
service officers. He also denied a pub
lishad report that General Black would
have charge of allocating ships.
*on the contrary" he said, ~ have
established it as policy for the
board as whole to make these alloca-
tions to insure the soundest possible /
Judgment and guard against the posi-
olllty OF favoritism or discrimination"
Coet]aals Defends Use