Evening star., 1921-01-21
SECRET TREATIES
! ON TRADE RIGHTS
BLAMED FOR WAR
Harvester Company Manager
Says Disarmament Will
Not End Peril.
CALLS FOR elimination
OF UNFAIR PRACTICES
Head Of Leland Line Says He Has
Seen No Evidence of British
War on U. S. Shipping.

the basic cause of wars and even a
disarmament agreement will not end
the danger of another world conflict
unless future commerce is developed
on the broad policy of equal rights to
all. Alexander Legge. general manag-
er of the International Harvester
Company, decared today in an address
before the convention Of the National
Merchant Marine Association at the
Washington Hotel.
I'VE hear good deal about leagues
and world associations by which
world peace may be established" said
Mr.. Legge. who was a dollar-a-year
man in Washington during the war.
None will be effective unless it is
founded on elimination of discrimi-
natory trade practices"
senator Jones' charges, made at
yesterdays session of the convention,
that British interests are endeavor-
ing to destroy the American merchant
marine. brought statement today
from NJ. j. Saunders of New Orleans.
president of the Leland line. operat-
ing American ships under the British
flag.
. Mistake to War on British.
He said he had seen no evidence of
!.
1t would be a mistake. he declared.
for Americans to start a war on Brit
ish shipping interests, as a fight be-
tween the two would be disastrous to
both.
Frankly admitting concern for the
future OF the American merchant ma
rine. men high in the business coun-
ellis of the nation proposed practical
methods for maintaining and deyel-
oping this newest and largest of
American enterprises at today's meet
ing Of the association.
Besides Mr.. Legge, Frank C. Mum
son, president Of the Munson steam
ship Line: Walter Parker, executive
vice president Of the Mississippi Val
ley Association; J. Parker Kirlin. adj
miraIty lawyer. and others forsook
general observations and got down to
,lnss aMssiean NJ msrcsant marine = sac-
they urged generally thst tie: pub
lie be patient and give the Industry
4 g.. etsncss e xEow as r. tss4 esfeIs e
3 svssf ono And cAanot be xdcoHtp1i sh-
ed Immediately, -
Must Co-Ofdinate Interests.
Mr. Legge said that there must be
cooperation between commerce and
the merchant marine ii either. is to
be expanded. Neither will succeed
without the other. he pointed out.
ing agreement between them. Some
way must be found to, Coordinate
tt1ei. interests and build them UP to-
gether, he added.
President Munson said the merchant
marine must put itself in competition
with the mercantile fleets of other
nations. and proposed as an important
step in this direction that the capital
cost of the American boats be brought
down to the basis of English capital
costs.
The suggestion made last year to
Congress by American shipping in
terests that 800 ton should be fixed
as the sales prices for Shipping Board
vessels brought ridicule. said Mr.. Num-
son, whereas. now, he continued. it
would be impossible to sell them for
anything like this price.
The book. value of many British
freikhters show them to be listed at
not more than from $40 to SIS ton.
he declared.
Exemption from taxation as far as
possible of the shipping industry;
revision of Shipping Board prices to
a much lower figurs and eaualiza-
ping witt. that Of foreign competitors
by the payment OF a fiat subsidy
were among the suge estions advanced
by Mr.. kir1fn, who Is general counsel
Of the American Steamship Owners
Association
Many Companies Fail.
Stating that many companies have
purchased ships at the high prices
asked by the Shipping Board. Mr. kir-
lin said that more than twenty have
failed and passed into receiverships.
and that other purchasers. unable to
receive assistance from sources other
than the earnings Of the ships. are in
financial difficulties. ~
He urged legislative policy which
would make it possible for ship own
ers to absorb and assimilate, on a
profitable basis the tonnage already
built. -
arer Of the New Orleans Association
OF Commerce. told the convention
that Europe would attempt to "fill the
needs of Latin America and the
orient. in competition with American
producers" and urged that the ports
Of this country be developed in order
that we may find market for our
manufactured products in Latin Amer
lea and the orient.
May Investigate Charges.
The Shipping Board today had in
nrospect an investigation in connec-
1ion with charges made against the
International Mercantile Marine Com
nanv by Senator Jones Of Washington
IN an address yesterday before the
National. Merchant Marine Associa-
fion. Senator Jones. who is chair.
man of the senate commerce commit
toe declared the company had enter
cd into an agreement with the British
Government to pursue mo policy in
furious to the interests Of the British
marine or of British
dp ~
chairman Benson of the Shipping
Rnard announced to delegates to the
Merchant Marine Association con-
rant;cn that he intended to refer the