The Washington times., 1920-09-14
BRITISH MERCHANT
. MARINE RATES CUT
Declared to Be Alarmed Over
Competition Of United States
Shipping interests.

Drastic cutting Of rates by Eng
lish shipping firms to offset the de-
velopment of the American merchant
marine, was reported TO the Ship
ping Board today.
The opening OF new American lines
under British registry has been the
sign for wholesale rate-cutting by
the British ship owners. according TO
the report which is in the hands OF
Admiral Benson. chairman OF the
Shipping Board.
Officials of the Shipping Board let
II be known today that they will call
into operation all Of the provisions
OF the Jones merchant marine act In
order to insure fair competition for
ships OF American registry.
RESENTMENT ABROAD.
Admiral Benson has indicated that
he does not care to use the provisions
of the Jones act providing for a
preferential rate for goods in Ameri-
can bottoms. but officials stated to-
day that this clause would be used if
II were found necessary to meet the
methods of competition OF foreign
ship owners.
Reports made to Admiral Benson
by Charles r. Deutsch. who has re-
Gently returned from a European trip
as admiralty counsel for the Ship
ping Board, indicate that there Is
strong resentment among European
ship owners over the efforts now be-
ing made to increase the maritime
industry in the United States.
The terms OF the Jones act, which
both Senator Jones and Admiral Ben
son declare are merely to insure fair
competition, are resented keenly in
Great Britain and the Scandinavian
countries, Deutsch reported.
OPPOSE JONES ACT.
Reports received by the Shipping
Board indicate that the foreign op-
position to the Jones act is develop
ing an attempt to discriminate not
only again American ships. but against
American business. The board is
making an investigation of these re-
ports.
That there Is a widespread. propa-
ganda against the development Of the
American merchant marine was again
charged today by Admiral Benson.
Repeated charges that the Shipping
Board as it now exists is without au-
thority to function under the terms
of the Jones act were characterized
by Admiral Benson as baseless at
tempts to injure the merchant ma
rine.
Attacks on the right Of the present
Shipping Board to function are base
less" Admiral Benson said. II can
only believe that II is part of the
propaganda against the development
OF our merchant marine"
MAY RETURN GERMAN SHIPS.
Plans for the transfer OF German
! merchant ships taken by Great
Britain during the war back to Ger
man registry are part of the program
| Of British interests to control the
policy of both the American and Ger
| man merchant marine, officials OF the
| Shipping Board here to day declared.
Nothing has been received by the
| board to indicate the number of the
vessels Great Britain Is willing to
throw into German registry to carry
out the plan. although officials Of the
| board declared the program OF the
British interests has been known to
them for some time.
The threat OF the semi official ship
ping organ OF the British Board OF
Trade to mould foreign shipping
policies IL 1t is impossible to prevent
the creation OF a merchant marine
| by another country was referred to.
Charges that representatives Of
German shipping concern partly
| owned by the British before the war
as we'll as representative Of
| British shipper and ship owner are in
Washington to carry out the Amer