The Washington herald., 1920-01-20
PLEDGES US.
SHIPPING FOR
LATIN TRADE
Chairman Payne of Mari
time Board Tells Confer
ence of Plan.
FINANCE ENJOYS MEET
Lansing Declares Spiritual
Unity First in I'm
portance.
FINANCE ENJOYS MEET

Ships of the American merchant
marine-both passenger and freight
will call at every South American port
of consequence regularly this year,
delegates to the second Pan American
Financial Conference here were as
sured yesterday by John Barton
Payne, chairman of the United States
Shipping Board. Chairman Payne's
statement was the outstanding fea-
ture Of the first day of the conference.
More than 800 persons. including
Cabinet officers, officials of the gov
eminent, and a number of finance
ministers of Latin-Amerfcan repub-
lies, gathered in the Pan American
Building to receive the formal greet
ings of the United States. Secretary
OF the Treasury Glass presided.
A message from President will
son. read by Secretary Glass. de-
cIared the republics of the Ameri-
can continent in these troubled
times of reconstruction should seek
no selfish purpose but be guided by
the desire to serve one another and
the world.
Lansing Urges Spiritual Unity.
From Secretary Lansing the dele
gates received the formal welcome
of the American government. He
said:
II feel certain that as a result of
your deliberations the republics of
America will draw more closely the
bonds which already unite them and
strengthen that spirit of mutual
sympathy and hcIpfulress which is
the very soul of Pan Ameri-
canism. The material accomplish
! ments should be great. but in Civ
ing to them your earnest thought.
remember that a greater and more
enduring benefit to mankind will be
attained through the spiritual unity
manifested in your councils"
Secretary Glass and John Barrett,
director n the Pan American Union.
also spoke. and there were short ad-
dresses by chiefs of the visiting dele
cations. The conference adjourned at
noon to permit group committees to
formulate a plan of action. and last
night Chairman Payne told of the
plans of the Shipping Board.
Former German Liners.
He announced the East coast Of
South America would be given a two
weekly service of five passenger
steamers, plying between New York,
Rio de Janeiro. Santos. Montevideo
and Buenos Ayres. The five vessels
selected-the Aeolus. Huron, Poca-
hontas. De Kalb and Princess -Matoika
are all former German steamers.
All FIVE steamers will be in steady op-
Grafton by May.
Judge Payne declared that in 1919
South American ports on the East
coast were visited by 2l9 freight ves-
sells, and that this record would be
surpassed this year. The board con-
templates an American merchant ma
rine service between South American
and European ports. as well as be-
tween American ports.
A two-weekly service from New
York to the West coast. with vessels
calling at Callao. AFRICA, Iquique and
Valparaiso. with five passenger
ships composing the fleet, will soon
be in operation. Judge Payne said,
and the freight service to the West
| coast will be greatly amplified.
Disposes of I04 ships.
Stressing the desire for an ade-
quate service between North and
South America, Judge Payne eX-
planned the total tonnage now COM
prising the American merchant ma
rine, and said:
I'VE have lost. reconveyed to for
mer owners or sold 1874 ships, repre-
senting 1,274.371 deadweight ton
mage. Some OF the ships now in
operation we will sell for use by
foreign flags. but the fleet as a
whole. representing 1.6SS ships OF
9,29S, 669 deadweight tons, will be
operated under the United States
flag as a permanent merchant ma
rine, and will be available to serve
the trade routes to. South America
and other countries"
On the speakers platform with
Secretary Glass. DIR. L. s. Rowe.
secretary of the conference, and
John Skelton william, comptroller
of the currency. was william Jen-
nings Bryan. Upon adjournment of
the conference. practically all MEM
bers OF the Latin-American delega-