Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-08
EGYPTIAN COTTON MEN
Get GOOD RATE OFFER
Users of Product 10 Shillings
Under Quotation by Brit
ish Conference.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
shipping Hoard Officials Declare In
trnfion OF Fighting for business
From Alexandria on Straight Com
pctiuNc DnSiS
icy AssocIatel prcsa.

~ f'NS'tldl'J t'FsSI.
WASlilNGTON. oct. 7.-Shippc-s
OF Egyptian cotton from Alexandria
have been offered a rate to American
ports ten shillings under that quoted
BY the British shipping conference.
which now controls tho business.
shipping Eoard officials disclosed to-
day. The now rate Is effective i'm
mcdiatoly. and ono American cotton
user who did not sign tho contract
ffcrc6 by british interests. is al
'cady moving his business at the low
a,;urc. IL Was said
u" Fight for business
Action by the shlrpinr Board was
taken after negotiations in England
through which American narticipn-
ton in the Alexandria cotton move
mcnt to American markets was
was broh"n on by the boards
representatives. Board officials made
II plain that they were preparing to
r. Ght for the business on Il straight
competitive basis. and fci. that IN
the course Of the British negotiations
they had met treatment that made
them welcome the fight
y statement issued in connection
with the breaking OF OF negotiations
said:
Stntc Reasons for Declining.
AS result OF direct negotiations
with The lines principals in England.
the former offered 10 rcl!nuuish TO
American bottoms 30 per cent Of tho
direct sa!linrs between Alexandria
anu the United States. stating IL was
not possible for the lines to make
any arrangements with regard to the
indirect traffic. that is, cotton NOV
ng TO the states with trans-ship-
ncnt ut an English port claiming
this was a matter ri negotiations be-
tween American transatlantic steam
"rs and the Atlantic westbpund con-
ference, the agreement to run for a
period of FIVE years.
our reasons for declining this Of
fer were that:
Contemplated "a Per Cent.
The prcr contemplated giving us
30 per cent of the sailings. but did
not guarantee to us 80 per cent OF
tho cotton, and seeing that contracts
We're in existence between the Brit
ish conference and the cotton ship
pcrs for the season, ic21-22. and fur
thcr seeing that there was an in
surance disability against American
steamers, we were no; a, all salts
fed that so per cent OF the sailinEs
ould III any way mean 10 us 80 per
cent OF the tOnnOSc; We being fur
thcr advised that the principal owner
OF one OF the British lines was very
large stakeholder or connected
through subsidiary companies with
The cotton presses and gins in Alex
OudTia. also that such uf the bank
ing necessary IN connection with the
movement OF this valuable crop was
in the hands Of financial. institutions
affiliated with Rritish institutions of
II similar character.
Moves ON Through Rate.
With respect to the indirect move
mcnt, the bulk OF this business
moves ON through rate. and seeing
that number Of lines carrying this
cotton from Alexandra. 10 the United
Kingdom also control lines from the
United Kingdom TO the United states.
we feet IL WAS hardly possible for
American boats trading out o! Liver
pool To gel anywhere near fair
rroportion OF this traffic.
Tile existing contracts entered into
for the current movement rs between
the i;ritish conference and the assoc
citation o. shippers specifically pro-
ridcs that no cotton shall move either
direct or indirect to the United
Kingdom in other than British bot
toms.
ITO have accepted the agreement.
therefore, without a written inodiiica-
$3.50 va s'''''''' houih wv IIuttt us
IN very doubtful position. This
contract also provides that no E2yp-
tiAn cotton shipper can sell his goods
except on =. l. {. Lasis This means
that the cotton is sold, laid down in
a United states port. and tie routing
Of same controlled by the shipper,
who is dominated by the British con-
ference in Alcxandrin.
ni,IS Materially Lower
ANOTHER point in this controversy
Is that. according To long custom.
bids are put i'm every year by the
British conference during the spring
OF each year to the Alexandria Gen
cral Produce Association FOR the
movement of the crop year beginning
the following September. The bids
that were put In by the shipping
Hoard were materially lower than
those put in by the British confer
cncc. and Yet for reasons still uncx-
planned 10 us, our bids were thrown
out and new lids called for from the
british lines without our knowledge.
and when these second figures were
submitted by the British Zines they
were found To he the Suruc as those
originally submitted by ua.
I'm this connection il has come to
US coniidcntinly that AN agrrCucnt
existed within the AlcNanGrlt Gen
oral Produce Association that the
business would he given To the I;rit-
81 .H.l.. =