Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-20
.1ones Makes Charges

10 - .
Washington, Jan. s0.-Charges that
the International"aMe Mercantile Marine
compa n.y.. an American shipping conf
pany now controlling the operation of
approximately forty vessels leased
from the shipping board, is bound by
an agreement entered into with the
British government in 1903 to pursue
mo policy injurious to the interest OF
the British mercantile marine or of
British trade" were made here to-
day by Senator Jones of Washington.
author of the merchant marine act.
Agreement Read.
Parts Of the text of the alleged
agreement. entered into for period
OF twenty years. were read by sena
tor Jones in an address befor.. the
annual convention OF the National
Merchant Marine association. in
which the senator made sweeping
charges of attempts by British inter
ests supported. he said. by certain
American interests. to destroy the
American merchant marine.
AS result OF this agreement SEN
ator Jones said. the steamship lines
owned by the lntcrna tional Mercan-
tile Marine company as well as the
leased shipping board vessels now un-
der its control arc actually operated
in the interest of the British govern
il \1t and British trade, and subject
- the terms of the contract"
support Charges.
In support of his charges tina,
American interests were aiding in tht
British campaign against American
shipping. Senator Jones declared an
agent of the shipping board in New
York. who. he said. was former err
ploye of the International Mercantile
Marine company. had opposed the es
ia b!ishment of an American shipping
line between New York and England.
and admitted that his reason for do.
ins SO was that it would "injurc the
business of British lines from New
York" 90,
The question naturally arises:
Where do British shipping interests
center in the United States?' The an
swer is that they center almost en-
tirelv in the port of New York. where
there large terminal investments are
located and from. which most of their
tonnage on this side Of the Atlantic
sails.
Benefits British.
/, Consequently whatever benefits
the port of New York. benefits Brit
ish ship owners. A monopoly of ex-
port freight sent through the port OF
New York spells greater profits for
these British owners. 1t follows then
that the British shipping men are in
accord with the eastern trunk line
railway officials. who seek to cancel
the present equalization of export
+, freight rates from, Central Freight as
sociation territory to Gulf and South
i Atlantic ports"
i The Washington senator, declared
this accord" was shown when the
New York Chamber of Commerce ap-
Ipointed a special committee to cor
fer with the trunk line association
last April to lay plans for fight to
eliminate the existing equalization Of
/ export freight rates and appointed as
Chairman Of the committee. Delos ".
Cooke. American director of the
! Cunard line. 4
The chamber Of commerce of the
state of New 7 ork is made up of in
iternational bankers and the heads OF
lgreat railway and steamship COM
Ipanies," Senator Jones continued.
l..Phillip A. s. Franklin. vice presi-
dent Of this chamber of commerce. is
the president Of the international
Mercantile Marine company. the
\ American company which entered i6-
to the agreement already referred
Il to-