The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-14
|Consuls Play
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Probe Proves
ny DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The 1ntelngsnosr)

Washington. Sept. l3.-Thorough In
ves,iSa,,cn .; all ,he evidence in thu
case Of the two American consuls.
whose.credcntiaEs we're revoked By Great
Britain. has convinced the United States
government that not a Scint.li1 Of proof
l;AS behind the charges OF undue tnnu-
ence said to have been used IN favor OF
American and AGAINST British ships.
The episode has not served 10 diwln-
ish but 10 intensity the feeling OF com
petition between the shipping Interests
~ the two countries The BrluaNs are
naturally so,ic!tous about the'r ca nE
;rade--,hny believe they need u W.
their war debts and kee1 their "
nrercial advantages Of the past The
United States shipping board II inoom
retently managed will not disturb tbs
British What they fear most Is thI;
,hA government here will really make
progress in the shipping business or
worse yet. that private American m
,ercsts will be able 70 reach a degree
90 efficiency not possible under Amcri-
can government operation.
Naturally American officials lock ask
ance at what they consider the consD!r-
scv - competition. One hears tales "t
British intimidation OF American CON
suhs throughout me world H. FOR in
stance. an American consul is remove
and IN. cause has no connection with
shipping rumors are said - be Pre- pa
gated 20 make other coHsuls Selieve they
TOO will lose their POSTS - they wnr';
too consptcuously in favor OF america n
trade and shipping.
The latest incident which has aroused
ne ire ot officials here however is ri,
pers.stert rumors Of change in manage
ment OF the United States shipping
board These rumnrs are believed &C
have for tfair object the undermining z
~ cor rkd.ace In the shipping board 50
that those who may ne thinking of4rnss
ing contracts with he board will bn
4issuaded. Only Tuesday oc this week
the ticker services IN New York carried
ths -urors ~ the Alleged resignation
- Alhn-t n Lasker as chairman ot the
shipping hoard The long distance tete-
rhones were ks7, busy with inquiries.
Nobody here knows how the runIoc g..
started and the natural inference is that
somebody Interested IN seeing Z cir
culacel gave T. currency.
The fact ie that Mr. T.aSke- has no
intention 90 resigning and that Fces'-
dent Harding has absolute confidence In
him and his already effective reccnstruc-
ton os The shippi.S boards affairs.
u Is an open secret In Washington that
In no man in the national capital ha
M Harding more confidence than he
has IN the ability OF the man he has
chosen % do the task assigned.
One oe the chief obstacles 20 progress
has heen me constant shifting and
changing of conSuls :, thc shipping
board The president determined tina:
he wou,d give Mr. T.askcr a free hand
~. .orJ
srierds that he regarded thc job d"ra
hy Mr.. T.asker as completely Justifr.Hr
me almost unbounded authority given
tho chairman - Tho board
So the rumors "f another change IN
mana Semeu; arc unfoundsd and is attrt-
huted here 20 quarters whore the wish
may no father 10 the though. Foreign
competition - 0s course beginning 10
bring all sorts ~ ro"' experiences 10 tho
governments shipping project but Il -
interesting 20 note tho almost uulver-
sal belief abroad that congress will pass
a ship sun-iiy bill. All the moves ot
tho Foreigners are predicted on that as
sumption and they ar" "ndea vorinE tn
chrcEmatc as far as possible any ad-
vantages ;r.c may accrue 70 America
from such :: course. l. Is 2 case oe srle
preservation On tho part Of tho carrying
interests nf Eurnpean countries and
while there is 2 disposition here 70 re-
coSHize thc viewpoint oF a competitor
= IS not % he expected that tho Amer
lea, government will permit tho intinri-
datio1 ~ American cnnsuls for tbs
purpose or assisting British shipping
companies. Something very plain il
likely to 70 saId,tn tho british foreign
Office on IN. suhj"cc very soon.