The Washington herald., 1920-04-19
DENIES POOR
CHILEMAILS
Praeser Defends Service
Criticised by Herald
Correspondent.

I
states was neglectng the mail
service to Chile and Brazil. IL being
alleged that mail was carried from
the United States only TO one Chill
can port; that is. to africa; and. in
general. there was an indictment Of
the methods employed in the Unit
ed States in the transportation of
mail to Latin America.
| As a matter Of fact. mails for
Chile are divided SO that there are
separate bags for africa. Antofa-
gasta, Conception, caldera, CO.
quimbo. Iquique. Punta Arenas.
Santiago. Tslca and Valparaiso.
These mails are not restricted in
delivery to africa, but are delivered
at africa. Antofagasta. Iquique. and
Valparaiso. because Chile wants
delivery at these places. Mails are
dispatched from New York on an
average OF three times a week by
steamships of the Panama Line and
the United Fruit Company Line to
the Canal Zone. for onward trans
mission to destination.
In addition to this service there
have been monthly dispatches Of
mail for Chile and other countries
on the West Coast of South Amer
lea. since May /, 1919. by steamers
Of the United States and Pacific
Steamship Line from New York di-
rect to destinations. Furthermore.
sailing direct from New York, ex-
pecting to reach Valparaiso in
nineteen days. this Grace Line serv-
ice to be every two weeks. This
service to Chile will furnish Ameri-
can exporters with adequate mail
facilities and. while your corre-
spondent indicates British steam
ers give better service. the records
OF the United States postal service
show the statement is not true.
since the service from New York
is better than can be furnished by
Great Britain.
An allegation is made that the
Grace Line carried mails from
Chilean ports TO the United States
free Of charge prior 10 the war.
but that later, when the United
states Shipping Board took over
the vessels of that lire. charges for
carrying mail were not made
known to the Chilean authorities
and they were suddenly presented
with a bill for s7.672 by the Ship
ping Board. which insisted upon
payment. to the CONSERVATION of
the officials OF the Postoffice De-
partment in Chile. The most rigid
investigation has failed to show
that the Grace Line or the Shipping
Board rendered any such bill as
mentioned. the oficials Of the
Shipping Board and members Of
W. X. Grace & Co. declaring that
they know nothing whatever of the
alleged transaction.
The United States is criticised for
not providing for the conveyance
of mail norihward from Chile. but
as the dispatch of Chilean mails is
entirely q matter under the control
OF Chile. the Urited States has no
business indicating what means of
transportation should be used. As
matter of fact. Chile has a sub
sidized steamship line and the
steamers of the line are required to
carry mail free Of charge when
rendered by the Chilean postal
authorities.
Much ado is made Ny your cor
respondent that. during the period
of the dock strike at New York
from October S to November :. 1919
no advantage was taken of steam
ships sailing from ports other than
New York for the Conveyance Of
mails to Brazil. This statement is
not true because there were no YES
sells sailing from other ports than
New York that could be utilized.
During the strike. however, three
vessels got away from New York
for Brazil and each carried mail.
so that the service was not entirely
suspended as IL is made to appear.
The strike did not affect the
mails to Chile. except in a small
way. as the United Fruit Company
maintained a sailing once a week
from New York. the mails being
placed on board by employees Of the
New York postoffice who also
helped place mail on board the
United States transport Princess
Matoika- which was utilized to
carry mail while the steamships Of
the Panama Line were unable to
get away with mails for the west
coast of South America. The service
from New Orleans OF the United
Fruit Company was not subjected
TO interruption. il will be observed.
and the steamships OF this line
were utilized to the fullest extent.
Mention is made of parcel-post
packages reaching Chile through
Peru. which statement has no foun-
dstion in fact. as there is a parcel
post service direct between the
United States and Chile. since Nav,
1919. which has proved of substan-
tisl advantage in permitting Amer
lean exporters to compete with
their British brethren in trade.
Parcel-post mails are delivered to
Antofagasta. IQuique. Santiago and
Valparaiso. and are dispatched on
an average of three times a week.
furnishing an extremely good serv-
/ ice for the conveyance of merchan-
disc packages.
Because the s. s Vauban was
withdrawn by its owners from the
New York-Rio de Janeiro service
and sent to England there is much
adverse criticism Of the United
states government, since IL is made
to appear that, by the withdrawal
of this fast steamship. there was no
mail transportation whatever to
Brazil. During the time the S.
Vauban was withdrawn from its
regular schedule. mails for South
Brazil were dispatched on forty
different steamships and the aggre-
gate loss of time by the diversion
of the s. 6. Vauban was a matter
of only a few days and not from
| lima 81 1919 IN Nava-har 10 ,o1a