The New York herald., 1921-07-29
BOARD OPENS FIGHT
TO AID U. S. SHIPPING
Aggressive Measures Adopted
to Insure Fair Treatment
for Merchant Vessels.
By the Associated Press.


WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Aggressve
measures nave been adopted by the
Shipping Board tc insure fair treatment
for American merchant ships In the
award of trading privileges in foreign
ports.
Although but partially revealed by
negotiations now in progress. the boards 8
policy is understood to rest on the propo-
eition that other nations must give every
proper opportunity to ships which ny
the Stars and Stripes or else run the
risk of encountering the retaliatory
measures placed within the prerogative
Of the board by the new shipping act.
There Is every indication as revealed
by officials hers that the American Gov
ernment will stand squarely behind such
q programme and every confidence that
il will succeed without serious opposi-
ton in placing the American merchant
marine on proper level in international
trade.
A situation which has brought the
boards policy into prominence exists
at Alexandria. Egypt. in relation to
contracts for the carriage Of Egyptian
cotton to the United Kingdom and the
United States. In the view Of board
have taken an unreasonable attitude
toward admission of American vessels
to that trade.
There is no disposition here to regard
the. Alexandria problem as constituting
a serious disagreement in itself, but
there Is feeling that 1t will set a sig-
nificant precedent The negotiations
which have led up to 1t really are con-
cerned with the broader subject Of adj
mission Of tho Shipping Boards repre-
sentatives into the conference Of ship
ping interests which control such
awards as that at Alexandria and the
general recognition of the board as q
factor In shipping decisions.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 2s.--The United States
Shipping Board. it was learned here to-
cay, has issued an ultimatum to the
British shipping lines that unless its
ships are accorded fair treatment In con-
tracts for the transport Of cotton from
Alexandria, Egypt. to the United King
dom and the United States the Shipping
Board will declare an open market"
and haul anything anywhere at any
rate
The board alsc will invoke the re-
taliatory measures embodied in the Jones
chipping act under which vessels owned
by unfair competitors may be excluded
from the United States ports, the ulti-
matum declared.
The action follows a controversy
which began last May over shipment to
the United States OF Egyptian long
staple cotton. At that time bids were
invited by the Alexandria Produce As
ISOLATION from Liverpool Conference
Steamship Lines and the United States
Shipping Board for handling shipments
OF the staple to American and United
Kingdom ports.
The bid of the Shipping Board. 1t was
reported was 25 shillings a ton to the
United Kingdom and 40 shillings to the
United States. Liverpool Conference
lines, on the other hand. 1t was said. bid
46 shillings to the United Kingdom and
66 to the United States.
The Alexandria Produce Association
comprises ninety-five Egyptian shippers.
Its cotton business is handled by board
OF sixteen. When the bids came up. II
was said. fifteen OF the sixteen were In
favor Of awarding the contract to the
Shipping Board, but as 1t was not unan-
imous no contract could be made.
The Shipping Board offered to compro-
mise the matter, agreeing. II It werc
given the American business. the bids for
the United Kingdom would be withdrawn
This offer, the American Chamber was
informed, was refused by the Liverpool
Conference lines and threats of roorisals
were made to obtain the business.