The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-20
lACT B|NOS
company TO
A|D.BR|TISA
SDustor Says American
shipping Firm Helps
English Trade.

Warrington, Jan. '20.-Charges
tht the International Merchant
nrine company, an American ship
,hg company now controlling the
ceerstion of approximately forty
! yesels leased from the shipping
| boerd, is bound by an agreement
entered into with the British gov
ernment in 1908 to pursue mo pol
IL Injurious to the interests Of the
British mercantile marine or Of
Br;tish trade" were made here to-
~ BY Senator Jones Of Washing
tcn. author of the merchant ma
rine act.
Parts Of the text Of the alleged
Agreement, entered into for a per-
| IA Of 20 years, were read by Sena-
tW Jones in an address before the
annual convention Of the Ameri-
an Marine association, in which
tho senator made charges of at
tempts by British interests, sup
Dqfted, he said. by certain Ameri-
ua interests, to destroy the Amer-
ian merchant marine.
The agreement, as quoted by Sen
Ior Jones. reserved the right of
termination by the British govern
nent in event of the pursuance OF
sny policy injurious to tie British
nercantile marine and left the
fnal decision in case Of any differ
ace % to this agreement or any
dispute arising hereunder. to the
lord high chancellor Of Great
Britain" Provision is made for
continuance Of the agreement after
he 20 years. period subject to no
dee Of five years ON either side"
Aids British Trade.
As . result of this agreement,
Senstor Jones said, the steamship
lines owned by the International
Mercantile Marine company, as well
Is the leased shipping board ves-
sels now under its control. are
actually operated in the interest
Of the British government and Brit
VI trade, and subject to the terms
d the contract" 4.
In support Of his charges that
American interests were aiding in
the British campaign against Amer
lean shipping, Senator Jones de-
clared an agent of the shipping
board in New York city, who. he
said, was former employe Of the
International Mercantile Marine
company, had opposed the estab-
ilshment OF an American shipping
line between New York and England,
and admitted that his reason for
doing so that it would "injure the
ouslness of British lines from New
Fork" s
The excerpts quoted from this
lsfeement OF August, 1903," Sena-
mf Jones continued. do not leave
NE question open to doubt as to
shere the International Mercantile
Sarine company stands as regards
british interests. The question
1en naturally arises where dc
Sntish shipping interests center In
ne United States% The answer Ii
aat they center almost entirely il
.ae port Of New York, where theil
arse terminal investments are 10.
Gated and from which most of theil
onnage on this side OF the Atlantic
sails.
Greater Profits.
consequently, whatever benefits
,ae port Of New York, benefits
british ship owners. A monopoly
" export freight sent through the
Wrt OF New York spells greater
ptonts for these British owners. Il
.ollows then that the British ship
ping men are in accord with the
Eastern trunk line railway official.
.no seek to cancel the presen1
sQualization Of export freight rate,
. ..Om Central Freight association
~sItory to gulf and South Atlantic
me Washington senator declared
H sals accord" was shown when tn,
sew York state chamber of com
msrce appointed a special commit
70 confer with the trunk lint
~ ,ssssociation last April to lay plan,
M sM hight to eliminate the exist
~s equalization of export freigh
s'es and appointed as chairman
me committee Delos w. Cooke
r.. Se''can director Of the Cunart
Sacrifice Principle.
me chamber Of commerce o
snte Of New York Is made vi
International bankers and tn,
~ OF great railroads and steam
p companies" Senator Jone
vSssanued. -. Philip A. Franklin. +,
~ ~ president Of the chamber o
q h.@erce. Is the president of tn
stnational Mercantile Marin
saapany, the American compan,
s,sa ca entered into the agreemen
sady referred to.
- reviewing this sequence O
Gppenings. can any sane maj
SaOs tnat this principle necessar
underlying the establishment o
american merchant marine