New-York tribune., 1922-03-04
Ship Board Acts
To Avert Rate
War on Atlantic
Withdrawal of United Amer.
lean Lines From Freight
Council May Affect Con.
tinental Europe Routes
Split Over Food Schedule
1ove to Attend Conference
here Monday in Effort
to Settle Differences

WASHINGTON. Mar. 3.-rtcps t.
avert rate war affecting coatincnta'
European trade routes will he taken hv
the Shipping Board. Vice presden. "
J. Love said to-day il connection w. til
NJ announcement o. the formal With
drawal of United American Lines from
the North Atlantic Frcigh. Rate Con-
ference.
Action Of these lines was taken BY
". Averell Hartman and his assoc
ates N New York Yesterday and an
ncunoemert Of the step was communi-
ested to the Shipping Board to-day.
Conference Here Monday
Mr.. Love said he would so - New
York Monday to confer With thrsc
making up the freight rate conference
IN or attempt TO smooth out any differ
ing a freight rate war wh ch the Sll p
ping board believes is threatened as
result of the Hartman action.
The primary cause Of the Hartman
withdrawal from the conference, it WAS
said at the Shipping Board, was OF a
split over the rate on carrying provi-
sons. The Hartman lines, ii was ex-
plaineo. desired the present rate Of
S2~1 cents hundred pounds continued
IN effect, but other members Of the con
ference wanted il increased. The HGrri-
man group refused to accent .he in
crease and withdrew.
The North Atlantic Frc; ;ght Rate Con
ference. it w-as said. was the cutgrowth
of fhe rate war which followed drastic
cutt ing Of ocean freight rates hy Rear
Admiral Benson. retired. when he was
chairman cf the Shipping Board
recent crisis has arisen IN shin
ping circles, it WAS said by the action
Of the Reardon & Smith Line of Car
diff. Wales, which refused - Join the
conference and began slashins rates.
One of the difficult phases Of the con-
troversy, it was added vas the fact
that there were three groups of inter
ests involved in freight rates to con
tinental Europe Dutch Be -
Kisr and French. The rate conference
dets rmincd the rate which Wa applies
BE to all three without ditferentistion
One Of the rem cdial suggestions. Nj
Love said, he would make on Mondsv
would be for an adjustment Of ocean
freight rates on the basis of districts
or territory served He would suggest
he added, that zonin9 system be in
h.di.cc III tflS way ne cXpl2iNcU, the
temptation to slash rates would more
or less be eliminated
Fears Further Rate Cuts
The following formal statement was
made by Mr.. Love:
1.-THE action Of one Of the principal
transAtlantic lines in withdrawing
from the north Atlantic continental
conference will undoubtedly result in
lowering of the already low rates exist
ing in this trade and on which owners
Of every flag have found it difficult to
continue IN business.
I'VE have felt for some time that the
North Atlantic Conference represented
such diversified interests, covering as
St did German. Belgian. Dutch and
French Atlantic ports, that IL could not
continue to function inteiligentlv o.
remain in harmony unless certain
fundamental changes we're made in its
activities
Recently the situation has been fur
ther aggravated by the ruthless com
petition Of British line TO Hamburg
which had declined to join the confer
ence
I've feel that the situation is most
unfortunate, as it is bound to disturb
conditions in other directions, but
every effort will be made on the part
OF the Shipping Board to confne the
rate cutting to individual trades, as
revenue must be conserved if ADEQUATE
service is to be furnished the shippers
of this country"