The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12
FRANCE TOCREATE
GREAT NATIONAL
MERCHANT FLEET
Paul Bigon Tells Policy to
Win High Position in
Economic Battle.
FOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
Government Has Not Taken
Up With U. S. Trouble Grow
ing Out of Rate War.

Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1890, oy THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,l
Paris, Dec. IL.
"Only the shortage of raw materials
hinders France from pushing to COM
pletion an extensive programme for
her merchant MARINE" Paul Bigon.
Under Secretary of State for Merchant
Marine. said in an exclusive interview
with THE NEW YORK HERALD to-day.
"In the economic battle which has
commenced since the war between all
the nations of the world, the French
Government intends to pursue It's
policy for the creation Of great ma
tional fleet which will suffice to assure
our commercial relations with the rest
of the world.
1--WE had before the war a fleet Of
steamships hardly sufficient to main
tain contact between France and her
colonies and the great Powers across
the seas, especially the two Americas
Moreover, we unfortunately lost a con-
siderable number Of these ships"
Referring to the Jones law and the
charge that the French Government
intends to support French ship owners
in the threatened rate war, M. Bigon
declared that up to the present time
the French ship owners affected have
not asked for intervention by the
French Government.
Marine Outlook HeaIthfuI.
"The Government therefore considers
- ton, ctit1 handing hptWeen the
Shipping Board and the owners inter-
ested." he continued. But as we are
occupied in assuring healthy future for
our national merchant marine II Is not
to be doubted that in case OF necessity
the French Government will decide what
measures must be taken to reestablish
for the benefit of French shipping in
terests the equilibrium which would thus
be upset by the Intervention OF the
United States Government. You thus
see that France is not only pursuing the
execution of a programme compatible
with her role before and during the
war, but also the mission which was
approved by her Allies themselves In the
Versailles treaty.
1--WE have every confidence that the
Allies will not attempt to prevent our
enjoying all the benefits to be derived
from this new role"
In so far as the ships seized by Brazil
from enemy States are concerned. VI.
Bigon contended that the French Gov
eminent favored the acquiring of these
vessels by individual concerns.
Making Up Wars Losses.
zone of the most difficult problems
is that of replacing the tonnage we lost
during the war;" he said. "Unfortu-
nately, In the distribution OF enemy
ships we have been unable to get salts
faction In this respect. That is why the
State has now assumed an active role
in the nations dockyards and Is en-
visaging the construction of both pas
senger and freight ships Moreover, out
OF half a million tons OF shipping ordered
from England nearly two years ago two
hundred thousand tons have been de-
iivered.
but It must be understood that the
State is not building for Itself. but for
private companies or ultimate purchar-
ers, and only because private shipbuild-
ers are unable to realize our programme
fast enough for our national needs.
"As for the liquidation OF the fleet now
owned by the State. commissioners are
now studying the best means OF distrib-
uting these vessels so as to assure the
continuity of our shipping relations with
our colonies and with the regions Tor
which we have been accorded mandates.
whether a system of direct sale OF
these vessels to private interests or tho
creation OF state controlled companies Is
sdopted Il Is certain that the State Will
release itself from the role of shipowner,
which has aroused comment by our
American friends"