Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-17
CALLED PARAGRAPHS

Washington, Aug. 1e.-Operation of American ships on former German trade routes to all parts of the world "'s sanction and support of the shipping board, Chairman Benson s,4-4.oli..-->- ,~. night in making public cooperative work ing agreements reached between the American Ship and Commerce corpora
 tion of New York and the Hamburg American line of Germany.
 In his summary of the agreements the
 chairman declared that "the shipping board would look forward to seeing one Of its constructive plans carried out.
 There is no German money in the American end of. the business in any place nor is there any agreement ex- pressed or implied for German investment l in any of the American companies, he added.
 The arrangement is for twenty years and consists, the chairman said. of a
 general agreement covering the princi- pies to be followed by the two concerns and an operating agreement covering the
 methods of carrying out the plan. In
 general, it provides that each party may participate with an equal amount of ton mage in such passenger and freight ser vices as shall be established which Will include between the United States and Germany and Germany and ports of the world other than the United States. Pier facilities, ports and office organizations of both companies are placed at the dis posal of the service.
 In the evelIc of war between the United States and Germany, provision is made for termination of the agreement and also to cover the contingency of war be- tween either the United States and other powers than Germany or Germany and other powers than the United States. Settlement of disputes between the two companies by arbitration is provided for, as is revision of the contract in the event the laws of either country should re- quire it.
 Passenger service between the United States and Germany is to be established within one year, the American corpora ton agreeing to supply passenger ships not exceeding 40,000 gross tons, to which the Hamburg American line cannot add unless it is agreed that the business war rant san addition. In that case the Ger man company may add ships until it has
 50 per cent. of the vessels in the service.
 In the design and construction of pas senger ships the Hamburg American line will give the American corporation all the technical knowledge and experience at it's disposal
 Each party may supply half the ton mage for freight service between the United States and Germany, but if the Hamburg American line has not the ton mage for its half, the American company may supply it. Rates on eastbound traf-
 fic are to be fixed by the American Ship and Commerce corporation and on west bound traffic by the Hamburg-American line.
 Freight services between Germany and countries other than the United States are to be :. ken up independently. Pro- vision also $ made for the withdrawal of either party from a service not to its interest but the party withdrawing may not enter if the other party carries the burden of building up the service. If both parties withdraw the service may be re-established as originally.
 "To begin to carry out the passenger
 arrangements, Chairman Benson said, the American Ship and Commerce cor poration has just purchased from the shipping board the steamer De Kalb and has let a contract for re-conditioning her to carry third class passengers and freight"