New-York tribune., 1921-01-27
Franklin Denies
Dennan Charge of
Hiding 81. M. M. Pact
Quotes Letter of Former
Shipping Board Chair
man acknowledging Re-
ceipi OF Agreement i'm Il Z


Replying to statements by William
Denman, the first chairman of the Ship
ping Board, to the effect that the ex-
istence of an agreement between the
international Mercantile Marine Com
pany and the British government had
been concealed from him, P. A. S.
Franklin, president Of the company,
Yesterday telegraphed Mr.. Denman de-
nying the charge. At the same time
Mr.. Franklin made public correspond
ence between himself and Mr.. Denman
in March, 1917. in which the latter is
quoted as thanking Mr.. Franklin for
promptly forwarding him copy of the
agreement.
Mr.. Franklin's action followed the
receipt yesterday of the following tele-
gram from Mr.. Denman:
Chicago, Jan. 25, 1921.
P. A. S. Franklin,
8 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
l cannot now comply with your
telegram requesting me to deny GER
tain recent press statements to which
1t refers, as | have not read them.
However, they are correct if they
state that you won my confidence as
chairman of the Shipping Board dur
ing the war, and also my personal
friendship when we were planning
for the future of our commercial
marine development. They are also
correct if they state this was while
you were concealing from the Council
Of National Defense, which appointed
you my adviser. and from me the
secret agreement binding you and
the international Mercantile Marine
won this confidence and friendship is
apparent from my testimony before
the Walsh committee. This was given
before Senator Jones exposed the
agreement to the public. If the pub
lication states that l believe you
concealed this secret agreement from
General Goethals and Mr.. Hurley it
is correct in this also. If the state
ments in this wire prevent any
American in public life from giving
such confidence as / gave they have
accomplished their purpose. Unless
America has a full list Of her Anglo
un-American administrators who are
seeking to secure our tonnage, our
=
dominion of the seas is hopeless.
The list would be discouraging, but
American resolution is sufficient for
the encounter once our decks are
cleared for action.
81 WILLIAM DENMAN.
New York, Jan. 26, 1921.
William Denman,
En- Route to San Francisco.
Your telegram from Chicago re-
ceived, and l am quite sure it was
sent under misapprehension, for on
March 21, 1877, you wrote me &C
knowledging receipt from me Of copy
of the agreement with the British
government referred to by Senator
Jones. This agreement has never
been secret, as it was published Off
cially by the Department of Com
merce and Labor in 1908, and by the
public press at the same time
P. A. S. FRANKLIN,
President international Mercantile
Marine Company.
The letter from Mr.. Dennan referred
to, was pirt of the following CORE.
spondence between Mr.. Denman, wher
chairman of the United States Ship.
ping Board, and Mr.. Franklin:
March II, 1917.
My Dear Mr.. Franklin.
Will you Kindly let Is have at your
earliest convenience copies of the
mortgages and agreements which
show 'he relationship to the British
government of the international
Mercantile Marine Company and any
other American common carrier cor
poration controlled by the Interna-
tional or in which the international
is interested?
Very faithfully you:s,
WILLIAM DENMAN, Chairman.
March 10. 1917.
Ny Dear MIR. Denman.
Your favor Of the 18th instant re-
ceived.
Inclosed please find copy of our
mortgage and also copy Of statemen
which we have fled with the New
York Stock Exchange, which give
very good history Of our financial
position and which thought you
might like to have for your files.
On August i, 1903, an agreement
was made between the British gov
ernment and the international Mer-
camille Marine Company, particularly
for it's British subsidiary companies,
and was also signed by those COM
panies.
This agreement does not affect our
American flag steamers.
As we only have two copies OF 1t in
this Office, am having q copy OF 1t
made for you and will forward 1t to
you in few days.
Yours very truly,
P. A. 9. FRANKLIN.
March 20. 1917.
Dear Mr. Denman.
Referring to my letter Of yester-
day, finding that we have three
copies OF the agreement with the
British government, and believing
that you would rathe~ have printed
copy for your files, thought IL best
to inciose one herewith
Yours very truly,
P. A. S. FRANKLIN.
March 21, 1917.
Ny Dear Mr.. Franklin.
/ wish to acknowledge the receipt
of your letters of March 10 and 20,
inciosing copies Of your mortgage, Of
the statement fled with the New
York Stock Exchange and OF this
agreement with the British govern
nent. Thank you for forwarding
these Enclosures 70 promptly.
Vexy faithfully yours,
SUfTyJAM f1TEMAM Chaj rrna n