New-York tribune., 1921-03-02
British Urged
To Retaliate
On u. S. Ships
Must Counteraci the Effect
of American Legislation
bv Stringent Penalties.
English Weekly Declares
Immediate Action Asked
Notification of President
and Bill i'm Parliamen,
Sought of Government

Immediate steps toward securing
Hrjtish legislation that will ,enable
Great Britain to counteract the effect
cf American action to give preference
70 American shipping are being urged
in England.
A mere protest" by the British Am
Yassador against ''haadicaps being
placed or British shipOwners" Will be
Of no use whatever, says Fairplay.
which proposes the inhiction of pen
slties or all American ships entering
british rorts in any part of the world.
"The steps which continue 10 be
taken in the United States to insure
he future of s. mercantile marine.
~ means Of which it is hoped TO make
herself. if possible. the greatest mari.
-;ne nation in the world" SAYS Fair-
ulsy. need arouse no surprise in this
country. for there IS no doubt that
shipping in the present time, even if
run on the most economical lines,
does not pay expenses, and therefore
he American legislators are faced with
tie fact that practically al those
pho purchased tonnage at the recent
Ugh prices must go into liquidation
Mess artiicially assisted. while the
shipping Board itself stands to lose &
,ery large sum.
Legislation to Aid L. s. Ships
Already the merchant marine act
as been passed in order to help Amer
icau shipowners 10 carry goods at an
advantage over the foreign owner, and
now Senator Jones has introduced 8
5iN into Congress to stabilize the posi-
non scill further in favor of his
nationals
Quoting from the bill to the effect
that fore ign vessels entering and clear
ng American ports must have permits
rom the Shipping Board, Fairplay con-
tinues:
Again, Senator Ransdell and presi-
lent-elect Harding are agitating for
the repeal OF Panama Canal tolls, so
lar as American vessels are concerned,
While among other suggestions made
for the encouragement of American
shipping are preferential rail rates on
merchandise shipped Il American yes
sells. preferential import duties on
goods handled by American ships, or
some other effective methods
These proposals. together with the
xclusion> OF British vessels from the
American coastIng trades, are unGoubt-
edly put forward will & view TO help
ag American shipowners TO esta blish
themselves IN the various trades TO and
rom America. and 10 enable them to
compete on the best possible terms, and
no one has any right to object so long
IS il is understood that those likely to
sufer are equally az liberty to take
precautions to protect their own inter
ests.
More Stringent Penalties
What we should and must do is to
notify President Wilson, or whoever
ne competent authority may be. thai,
while admitting that the United States
as every ght to do what it has done,
re also possess similar privileges, and
hat unless The disabilities applying
o or contemplated for British steam
RS are done away with we shall be
compelled TO impose like. or even, per-
laps. more stringent, penalties on all
American ships entering British pcrts
4 any part o. the world.
Such an attitude on our part could
ne REGARDED neither as a threat nor
an insult; indeed, we are convince d
that IL would be accepted as a proper
BUSINESS crecaution by nation whose
business Instincts are certainly not
second to our own. And in ordershat VII {
We proposed doing might be open to
no possltle mis- Interpretation we would
slggest that our policy should forth
Wltn be c~ystallized into & dill and laid
9sfore the House in order that the
whole Empire may be able to un6er-
stand fhe position and act accordingly"