The Washington herald., 1920-09-19
ATTEMPT SEEN
TOHUSHDEAL.
Yelled Warnings for Writers
On Hartman Project
Are Charged.
BRITISH SIDE IS CITED
English Newspapers Belle
Announcement of Ship
Sales to Germans.
BRITISH SIDE IS CITED
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
CCopyright, 1920, by Public Ledger Co).
Attempts are being made to hush
up the German-American shipping
deal. The object is to intimidate
writer's and newspapers which have
brought the amazing facts of the
Hartman Hamburg Benson arrange
ment to light. Confidential warn
.ings are in circulation in Washing
ton that all such offenders are shortly
to be investigated" by Congress.
They are to be held up to public
ignominy as "alien propagandists."
Their activities are to be pilloried
as having been exercised primarily
on behalf of British shipping in
terests." Japan, too, will be charged
with having inspired them.
Warnings of investigation are ac-
companied by hints that matters are
not to be allowed to rest with per-
functory inquiries by committees of
the House or Senate. The Depart
ment- of Justice is to take a hand,
and Federal prosecutions" 1t is
threatened, may follow the exposure
of "anti-American intrigues." Be
sides throwing light on the mo
tives" of those who have shown up
the Hartman Hamburg Benson af-
fair. investigation will be made of
alleged attempts in this country on
behalf of foreign interests" to un-
dermine and discredit the Jones act.
One of the specific things to be
probed in that connection is the un-
successful campaign recently waged
in the State of Washington to defeat
Senator Wesley L. Jones, author of
the new merchant marine law, for
denomination in the Republican pri-
maries. A mysterious concern, called
the Northwestern Educational AS
ISOLATION" evidently we'll equipped
with funds, took whole-page adver-
tisements in Seattle, Tacoma and
Spokane newspapers in which the
Jones law was ruthlessly assailed
as a death blow at American ship
ping.
Addresses Old Shipping Board.
In connection with the proposed
investigation of the "animus" be-
hind revelation of the Hartman
Hamburg enterprise, congressional
light-seekers might inquire care
fully into the internal organization
Of the Shipping Board last winter
when the German project was orig
mated. The Investigators may be
able to elicit some sensational in
formation as to the animus that in
spired the board, months before
Admiral BensOn's Craftsmanship. to
promote the Hamburg American
Line scheme. 1t has reCe ntly been
learned that influences, whose alien
Affiliations in a certain pugnacious
direction are notorious, were active
and powerful in the Shipping Board
when the gentlemen from Hamburg
began spinning their little plans.
On Monday of this week it was
announced in Washington that
Great Britain was about to take
action with the Shipping Boards
sanction of a maritime alliance with
the Germans. 1t was stated that in
formation had just reached the
United States government that the
British will sell the forty former
German passenger and freight lin
ers, awarded them by the Repara-
tions Commission, to their former
owners.
The announcement took compet-
ent British quarters in Washington
completely by surprise. Meantime,
British papers have reached America
stating explicitly that Lord Inch
cape, who is acting for the British
Reparations Commission, on Sep
tember asked publicly for bids for
the former Germah liners exClu-
sively from British shipowners.
Retrieve Sub Losses.
Every shipyard in the British EN-
pire is working tooth and nail to
make good the loss of 5000, 900 or
5000, 900 tons of shipping which
John Bulls mercantile marine lost
through U-boat warfare.
1t is said to be highly improb-
able" that in such circumstances
the British government would offer
to sell the former German tonnage
to foreign purchasers least of all
Germans.
The Public Ledger bureau in
Washington is in receipt of many
messages apropos its recent dis
patches dealing with "Benson's
Hamburg steak" A celebrated for
mer United States Ambassador, once
president of the American Merchant
Marine League, writes:
Nothing could be more timely
than to bring out all the unwhole-
some facts relating to German in
reference with our merchant ma
rine."
One of the foremost steamship
owners in the country says:
'I promise to be of whatever as
sfstance may be possible in the work
you have undertaken of showing up
the iniqUity of the German affair.
The whole subject demands the most
thorough investigation by our gov
arnmanto