The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-15
'BR|T0NSG|VEN
Denman Tells How English At.
tempts to Control American
Marine Involved Board.

British efforts TO dominate Amer
lean shipbuilding affairs in the
early days of the war even went to
the extent of getting British agents
elected to important administrative
positions, William Denman, first
chairman of the Shipping Board
testified today before the Walsh
Congressional Committee.
CITES AN INSTANCE.
Denman cited one instance as Illus
trative of this,
.Tn April, 1917" he said. "aftcr the
arrival Of the British mission, ] lcft
my ofncc in New York one day at
noon for a conference with some
New York shipSuilders. i expected to
be gone abou; three hours.
AT tllis time. we were just getting
the shipping administrative board or
ganized, Just getting started. We
were very anxious to organize on
purely American basis, and not insert
any British or foreign influence until
we were organized and knew where
we stood.
when returned to my office
mind you. was chairman Of the
board--I found. to my amazement,
that in the three hours had been
away a meeting OF the board had
been held and a resolution passed
making Mr.. Conan Guthrie and three
or four other British gentlemen
members OF that board.
v.ru,v M x.,u uow. .-
..
TO this DAY 'ne ~"o'o '''"s $
a mystery to me. How those ihen
oeno .ne'e uui A., Lnow
NOV my VIC" ,, ,bcv rot
! 90 hho"' h'"'' Nv"
or.
Ihere was very 'eI3 -,
SION OIL the ooaro' 'he "e''''
versed. -, ,i.
Later ! asked breh' No" 81
coheagues) ABOUT IL, anu o
don't Know now we dlo IL.
Denman SAID ne was ~h' ,,,s,
anxious to cooperate WIN
tcrests, but he was convihIea y. n,n. IL
wisdom OF organizing hnie
building program on p''e''
can basis ,,.,
Congressman Kelly tNepuon.en'' :
Of Michigan, showed interest IN De"
mans story or attempted ioreisn eon'
troll and domination OF American MA
rine efforts.
Dcnman said he had consideraoie
more information along this linc' p"t
much of II connected up with secret
matters which he did not reel AT I'D
erty to divulge without the Presi-
dents permission. II that permission
were obtained By the Walsh commit
tee. he said. he would be glad to give
it to the committee.
pRArsus nENsON.
,,, M p.
pchnan paio ho'"irsi S,,',
present chairman OF inc "hipp'"s
Boara' a compnment
oon know nuen aSou ,r1 = 80
eht a'lon w, - -,
salo, ou' sou neeu .,..nt.r, ~
DenSo a.,
"u.ii oi VI. o rr,,r,
tne snippIhs uos -. ,ha. !, !.
Den'len ase, ,'peu W ."e
anu penerai
pelore t"ey eoui go "ns
, s,noo'nIS - -, soy
uiai"e y. noe,na ,,,,, o.ns % g., ~, 80
INA. uoe,aan a,,t,,s,..t;on mnS anS oonstrnr.
VI '"e 80 ,.a hn,rd,s .c,i,,i,ios
III rOas o,,aCv ,,.,,h
VILE ,in. ,na,,ars
omos,,o,na ~ T.,Iv n, IN ube,ber
- royornm.nt hod NV non,er of
VIZ .ot;na ,t.aIr aroins, un,a,r ~
.i,,a oan,rac,s Dnnn,on aid.
1Sa,sr- g., ",,op - ,hat AZ ,o
10, ,,ada noi.t.S. Sv,,h Gov.
.ra.,ar ho wnmld taLe that con.
,rao,or ,rto bio orfice and some,biny
u,a,,id bannen 70 him He wa, that
rira or man"
,-uGEv MnrNu rNn,~rs
Denman stressed the need for
An,crican ships IN no eouinned with
n,s.sei motor engines ~ The Iynited
s,otes ,ncrcantIlc oeet Ia to comnets
~, go tsr,ns ,y,th pri,isb Scandi.