The Washington times., 1922-01-31
By GEORGE w. HINMAN.

CHICAGO. Jan. s1.--In Washing
ton the American statesmen yield
to the statesmen of Great Britain
and Japan. The British and Jap
anese combine to advance their
power In the Pacific and Asia. The
Americans beat a retreat.
lions business? Much. Power and
feebleness and bad business. The
evidence IL already here. Even be-
fore the conference closes there come
from England protests against
Americas building up and retaining
Q great merchant marine. against
Americas carrying her, own farm
products and factory products to
market. against controlling her own
commerce and handling her own
goods; against any Government &C
ton that would deprive Great
Britain Of the tribute that she now
levies on. American business in
handling most of Americas ocean.
borne exports. % -. RI
Surely. It is surprising to read the
statement of q representative Eng
sshman that for the United States
10 protect and upbuild its merchant
shipping at this time would be very
unfortunate for Anglo-American re-
lations, would be the very opposite
Of friendly act. ..,
"Other world powers" says the
chief Of the Shipping Board, ARE
merely taking the stand that Ameri.
ca should always be a vassal nation,
50 far as shipping 10 concerned" He
diplomfically abstains from men,
tioning England more directly.
H.. =. Foreign Attitude.
What provides the opposition Of
England In this case Is the proposal
that the United States may pay a
ship subsidy. But why not? = II
American business needs II, why
not? 80.
Now this is not an argument for
o ship subsidy plan. The whole posi-
ton of the Government is too vague
for any argument. for or against, as
yet. This is simply a statement Of
the attitude Of foreign business to
American business, N order that
American business may realize just
how II stands among its competitors.
Ehgland's position is perfectly plain.
So is Europe's position.
e. England profits more than half q
billion dollars a year from her ocean
freightss A large part Of that profit
IL paid by the farmers and manu-
facturers Of the United States. Eng
land does not propose to let those
hundreds Of millions go into other
hands, even into the hands OF those
to whom 1t rightfully belongs. She
means to keep the money. She talks
Of unfortunate" and "unfriendly"
acts when American business pro-
poses any measure to take into its
own hands the transportation Of its
own goods. the control of its own
markets. . ~ 81.
Action Is Necessary. 49,. ...
II is astounding! Before the war.
subsidies, Government subsidies,
were paid to the. merchant shipping
Of these countries-Great,, Britain,
France, Germany. Austria, Italy,
Spain. Portugal, and four Of five
others in Europe, besides Japan.
Great Britain pays the largest sub
sidy Of them all, or. about 1000, 900.
Her merchant shipping is SO strong
and thoroughly established that such
protection would seem almost super
fiuous. Yet. In her anxiety to domi.
nate the seas and reap the profits of
sea borne commerce, she takes no
chances; she goes to spending the
mon y to make the assurance Of her
shipping business doubly sure. And,
At the same time. she all but men.
aces the United States because the
American Government talks of doing
for It's newborn merchant marine
what she is doing for a merchant
marine of her own. centuries old
Business is business In Europe,
especially in England. The chief