New-York tribune., 1921-11-28
Approve World
Agreements on
Shipping Rules
Resolutions of International
Conference in London
Seen as Step Toward Uni
formity in Maritime Laws
Ship Owners Await Details
Favor Modified Hague Regu.
lations ON Bills of Lad.
ing and Load Line Rules

The action of the International Ship
ping Conference in London in adopting
resolutions approving the Hague rules,
providing uniform bill OF lading, and
steps toward universal loadline regula-
tions. are regarded by shipping men
here as move for agreement between
all maritime nations upon marine laws
In the absence Of full details there
10 disposition to withhold judgment,
but the developments of the three-day
conference in Great Britain are con-
sidered as distinct step forward
The decision of the steamship men
upon the Hague rules was uncertain up
to the vote on the resolution. When
the provisions for uniform bill of
lading were adopted by the Interna-
tional Law Association, last September,
they soon obtained the Endorsement of
bankers, merchants, shippers and un-
derwriters. The ship owners were in
clined to hold aloof until it's features
were thoroughly explained. In recent
weeks the shipping men have swung
around to support of the rules, while
there has been q decrease in the en-
thusiasm of other interests.
Proof Up to Shipper
The reason for the change is that
the ship owners generally have come
to the belief that uniformity is desir-
able and that the few additional bur-
dens placed upon them would not be
disadvantage if effective throughout
the world. The support of shippers
and merchants has cooled because of
more complete study of the provisions,
which apparently throw upon the ship
per the burden of proof in case of loss.
Previously it has been the duty of the
company to show that it was not negli-
gent.
In view Of the enforcement of the
Hague rules. for voluntary application,
1t is believed here that substantial
notifications must have been made be-
lore the conference voted. The atti-
tude of American ship owners has been
that the proposed rules did not fully
protect their interests. 1t was pointed
out that the uniform bill of lading would
be prima facie evidence of the nature
and value of the goods. Another point
was that the rules would allow foreign
ship owners to insert clauses relieving
them of certain liabilities on goods at
piers, while American shippers are pro-
tected under the Harter act.
Fear Action in Congress
There is another reason for the re-
iuctance of American shipping men to
approve the Hague rules in advance.
In general the rules are similar to the
United States Harter act, which is
satisfactory to the steamship compa-
MES. Americans have waited for some
evidence of the support Of foreign in
terests before taking a step which
would be notice to Congress and the
public that they are willing to make
the slight amendments to the Harter
act that might be involved. Once the
subject is open, in the view of local
steamship men, Congress might proceed
to amend the Harter act, regardless of
the action of foreign nations. That
this fear is not idle is shown by the
fact that last spring the Senate Com
mittee on Commerce and the House
Merchant Marine Committee gave
strong support to the bill proposed by
shippers and underwriters to throw
greater responsibility upon the ship
owners for losses or damage to cargo
Under the existing law the steamship
companies are allowed to quote
freight rate based upon liability lin
tied in most instances to 500 pack
age.
No special objections are recorded to
the movement for international load
line regulations. In fact, the attitude
Of the steamship owners has been in
favor of the principle of loadlines, but
they have opposed bills in Congress
for this purpose until all maritime ma
tions could reach an understanding.
The action of the London conference,
accordingly, is in line with their views.
in some quarters there is q DISPOSE
ton to look upon the International
Shipping Conference as the forerunher
OF closer cooperation between coun-
tries in establishing uniform regula-
tions. This is favored as tending to
remove disadvantages of one nation
over another.