New-York tribune., 1921-09-20
Admiral Sims
Denies He Is
Foe to Marine
Asserts Glass, in Senate,
Misquoted Conversation
in London; Sees Barrier
in Present Restrictions
Navy Needs Shipping Aid
Merchant Vessels Required
to Furnish Supply Trans
port, Admiral Declares

From 7'he 5ribanc's Washington Bureau
WARRINGTON, Sept. 19.--Rear
Admiral William S. Sims denied in a
letter made public to-day that he told
Senator Carter Glass in conversation
in London that the United States ought
not to undertake the development of a
merchant marine Of its own. Admiral
Sims's letter was in reply to an in
quiry early this month from the Ma
ticnal Merchant Marine Association.
A dispatch tonight from Lynchburg,
Va, however, quoted Senator Glass as
standing by his original statement of
the Admiral's remarks.
In his letter. Admiral Sims declares
that Senator Glass was mistaken in
quoting him as saying that the United
States ought not to undertake the de-
velopment of merchant marine. The
restriction Of the present shipping
laws, Admiral Sims says he pointed
out, would make it difficult to develop
an adequate trade feet under the
American flag. The American navy,
he adds, would be of little defensive
value if it were not for the American
merchant marine.
The two versions of the London con-
versations are at variance, as is shown
in the correspondence between the Ma
tional Merchant Marine Association and
Admiral Sims. The letter of inquiry
from the association, dated September
8, addressed to the Admiral at the
Naval War College, Newport, r. l., was
as follows:
Glass's Statement in Senate
'In the Senate debate on the Ship
ping Board appropriation on August 20,
1921, Senator Glass spoke as follows:
"'When l was abroad in the fall of
1918 Admiral Sims, much to my amaze
meat, told me in London that he did
not think the United States ought to
undertake the development of mer-
chant marine of it's own. He thought
that the field of activity should be left
to Great Britain; saying that the
British were our kinsmen, bone of our
bone and blood of our blood, and might
be relied on to come to our defense in
case of war; that they were natural
seamen, and we know nothing about it.
Besides, he added, it would require q
great subsidy to conduct a merchant
inherently opposed to subsidies'
Knowing that your duties during
Americas participation in the war
placed you in position where the
effect of the lack of an adequate Amer
lean merchant marine was most appar-
ent, this association feels that mis-
take must have been made in attrib-
uting to you the statements quoted By
Senator Glass.
GAS this is time when the shipping
situation is critical and misconceptions
of the underlying causes of the condi-
tions existing have caused hostility to
shipping, the association feels that
statement from you as to the value of
an efficient merchant marine for both
protective and commercial purposes
would be of great value"
Replying under date of September
t2, Admiral Sims writes:
Referring to your letter of Septem-
Der 8, I am not surprised that Senator
Glass WAS much amazed if he under
stood me to state in London that the
United States ought not to undertake
the development of a merchant marine
of it's own.
"Just how far this is from what I
ever have or could have thought of the