The Washington times., 1921-11-27
BY PHILIP FRANCIS.


In this correspondence / recently
stated that British secret diplomacy
had gained two great victories over
American interests before the invt,
ntion to the conference was issued
publicly.
One of these was the death Of the
Panama Canal free tolls for Amert'
can coastwise ships. That was
accomplished by having the free
tolls bill which Senator Borah had
pressed through the Senate put TO
sleep in committee by the Repuo'
lican House leaders under tnstruc-
tons from the White House.
The other was the abandonment
Of the Shipping Boards program TO
build up our merchant marine and
make It profitable through the
application of preferential rates to
American cargoes carried In Ameri.
can ships. That had not been
accomplished at the time l wrote.
nor has II been accomplished yet.
But II In to be accomplished as soon
as the Congress reassembles.
Plans Special Message.
Mr.. Harding has just made IT
known that he intends to send
special message to Congress as soon
as It again assemblies urging the
repeal of section 81 Of the Jones
merchant marine act The Jones
merchant marine act was passed
on June 4, 1920, and was signed by
President Wilson the next day. The
act provided that within ninety days
from it's passage the President must
serve notice on all nations interest
ed that the United States would
abrogate all treaties which prohibit-
ed the United States from giving
American ships preferential rates
and preferential tonnage taxes.
The purpose of the act was to
provide increased cargoes Tor the
enormous merchant marine neet
which we had built and which either
had to have profitable employment
or else be dispersed under the ham,
mer, or let rot In harbor.
President Wilson deliberately re-
fused to obey the provision Of the
law which instructed him to give
this notice within ninety days, and
never did give the notice. although
he remained in office until March
Of the following year.
On September 81, 1920, at Balu-
more. Mr.. Harding. who was then
the Republican candidate for the
Presidency. severely upbraided Mr..
Wilson for his refusal to obey this
law and for his failure to give notice
ahrogating tho treaty which stood
in the way of preferential rates TO
our shipping. Mr.. Harding said:
What Harding Said.
'Tf were President, which fully
expect to be, 1 would call Congress
together and tell them the reason
why 1 didn't want the trade policy
u this country fixed by any other
people I'm tho world"
Mr.. Harding has been President
nine months, and although this law
has stood upon the statute books
all during that time he has not
obeyed II. He has done exactly as
Mr.. Wilson. He has ignored the
law, No notice has been served on
other nations of the intention OF
the United States to abrogate
treaties prohibiting preferential
rates to American shipping. Con-
seQuently the treaty still stands
and consequently no preferential
rates or tonnage taxes can be grant
ed to American ships carrying Amer
lean cargoes. And 80 our merchant
marine has been conducted at a loss
or has been laid up idle while
foreign ships carried the American
cargoes which should have employed
American ships.
Now to tell some inside facts.
Not many weeks ago Chairman
Lasker. of the Shipping Board.
after having reduced chaos to
something that resembles order.
laid before the President and the
Cabinet a plan to employ and up
build our merchant marine by CIV
ing American ships engaged In
carrying entirely American cargoes
the preferential rates and the
preferential tonnage taxes provided
for in the Jones merchant marine
act. This plan was submitted to
two full meetings Of the Cabinet.