Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-05
FRANKLIN DETAILS
SHIPPING PACTS
Head OF international Marine
Says England Didn't Inter-
fere With u. S. Interests.

New York, oct. separating agrt =.
mcnts between the International Mer-
camille Marine Company. an American
corporation, and the British governs
men,. did not affect the company's
American flag ships even before the
drafting OF supplementary agree
ment requested by the shipping
board. II. A. s. Franklin. president of
the International Mercantile Marine,
told members OF the board ut special
hearing here yesterday.
The hearing was called TO obtain
from Mr.. Franklin a recital of de-
tails OF the British agreement which
was attacked by Senator Jones, of
Washington, before it's amendment as
being inimical to the foreign commerce
Of the United States.
senator Jones charged it bound the
company TO pursue no policy in-
furious 10 the interest of the British
Merchant marine or of British trade"
The agreement. originally drafted in
is0S was sought by the company,
Air. Franklin told the board, TO offset
advantages gained by the Cunard line
when the British government began To
hAAtE ~ AtAttN AsAAt ~ ANaaAS anu AdNNt-
able mail contracts, following acquisi-
tion OF British tonnage by the Inter
national Mercantile Marine. The
agreement gave the international
marine the benefit of British mail and
other valuable contracts. He denied
that il had been kept secret as charg-
ed by Senator Jones.
During 10 years OF operating under
these agreements" he continued, I'VE
have never been interfered with by
the British government in the man
agement of our ships, and no re-
straint Of any kind has ever been
placed upon us.
During this entire period we had
American flag ships in competition
with British ships and British flag
ships which we own in strong and con-
tinuous competition with the Cunard
and other British companies"
Mr.. Franklin emphasized that the
company was an American corpora
tion. 9sh2 per cent OF its stock being
owned by American citizens. He as
serted that. recognizing the devel-
opment of national aspirations for al
American merchant marine. the com.
pany began negotiations in 1918 L
dispose of its British flag ships 10 {
British syndicate, but that the sal,
was stopped at the request of Presi.
dent Wilson.
lie added that the United State:
government then bought the ships
hut later withdrew from the transac,
ton.
A., x>~.ot-,s- ,ow;ao-ol .efo~tx, 80 ,h,
company 20 buy thirty-four former
German ships from the United State:
for a total of s2S,500, 900 ana said tn,
company had offered TO agree to keel
the ships forever under the American
nag. This. together, with the fac
that IL was prepared to spend NOR,
than the amount bic in recondition
tng the ships, he declared. furnishe,
conclusive evidence that the compa
ny's agreement that its British ship
would not be used 70 the detriment o
British trade did not prevent the com
pany in any way from expanding il
business under the American flag.
During the presentation of Nj
Franklin's statement, Chairman Las
ker interrupted him to say that tn
shipping board proposed TO make
quick decision regarding the statu
of the International Mercantile Ma
r.ne.
We will definitely say" said NJ
Iasller. whether we can deal throug
the International Mercantile Marin
90 build UP the American merchant ms
rine. We will not leave you in doub
and we will act expedittously in mai
ing known our decision"