The Washington herald., 1921-04-19
OUR PACIFIC sHIPPING FACES
CRISIS. SAYS wEsTERNER. :,


OUR PACIFIC SHIFTING FACES
CRISIS. SAYS wEsTERNER.
American shipping In the Pacific
faces crisis, In the opinion Of
John p. Henderson, San Francisco
shipping man, seen yesterday at the
Washington, who declares that the
great trade advantages gained by
American shippers during the war
are at stake and that the United
States government must step In II
this trade is not to be lost to
European and Asiatic traders.
During the war" Henderson
pointed out. Americans, through
the Shipping Board. put their money
into vast argosies that traversed
the seven seas. replacing German.
English. French. and other foreign
fleets.
Taking away trade from the
Suez and Panama Canal routes dur
ing the war our West Coast ports
with China, French Indo-China,
Cochin China. Siam. the Straits Set
Elements, and Eastern India.
GREAT TONNAGE BUILT
DURING THE WAR.
The nearness OF Pacific Coast
ports to all these rich markets gives
the West Coast a natural advantage
over European nations. and during
the war our far-sighted shipping
men in San Francisco. Seattle, and
other Pacific ports established lines
to the Far East, putting on swift
new liners built by the Shipping
Board with money supplied by all
American citizens. During the war
these lines handled the Pacific COM
merce which the belligerent Euro
pean nations were powerless to
touch.
Upon the termination of the war,
began the struggle to hold this
trade against British lines, which
once more sent tramp steamers
through the Suez Canal. This
struggle is by no means over, for
American shippers are reluctant TO
give up the advantages already
gained. This trade is logically ours.
II we consider the geographical
phase alone.
SHORTEST ROUTE AS
FAR AS CALCUTTA.
San Francisco and other Pacific
ports can compete with European
cities clear to Calcutta, for we have
the short haul advantage. Japanese
and Eastern Siberian trade belongs,
10 Pacific coast ports by the righ,
OF shorter distance. 1t next be-
longs to Atlantic ports via the Pan
anna Canal. Then comes England,
who has the next nearest ports.
| This advantage may be retained
II the United States will only give
her shipping interests the same
backing that England gives to her
traders. Our shippers must be
enabled to operate their lines at a
nSure sufficiently reasonable to ad-
init OF competition with European
bottoms. To do this the Shipping
| Board regulations as they are now
must be changed. They are war
time measures and are not adapted
to trading in time of peace First
OF all we must be able to eliminate
some Of the surplus crews which we
are now compelled to carry until
men are fairly walking over one
another in the engine rooms Of our
liners. We must have an equitable
adjustment of the wage situation.
and we must sweep away the scores
| OF hampering regulations which
now discourage the American ship
| owner.
CREDIT FACILITIES. ARE
NEEDED BY EXPORTERS.
American finance. too, must help
us. We must be able to extend
long credits to our Asiatic buyers
This means closer cooperation be-
tween bankers and exporters
European business men have found
such cooperation conducive to sue
cessful trading. The Oriental will
not trade with us on a cash basis
when he can get credit from re-
habilitated Europe. And this is the
most wonderful opportunity we have
ever had. for the Chinese, especially,
stand ready and willing to trade
with us because of the great
antipathy toward the Japanese
shippers against whom Chinese
merchants have in many ports de-
clared a boycott.
The time is ripe for a vigorous
effort to keep the trade we have
gained and to find new and richer
markets for the rapidly growing
Manufacturing industries now be-
ing developed along the Pacific
coast. We cannot relinquish at this
late date the splendid trade built
up with the money and enterprise
of our far-seeing men on this side,
and enlarged and developed by the
heroic efforts Of the trade mission
aries in Asia who co-operated by
showing our goods to natives even
in the heart of China and Thibet"