New-York tribune., 1922-03-09
Rate w ar Ends
AS Ship Lines
ConeTogether
United American Lines Re-
Join Continental Confer
ence; W. ]. Love Reports
Agreement on Policies
Three Others Disbanded
Genoa Conference Breaks
Up as Mediterranean
Schedules Arc Opened

After a stormy session of FIVE hours
Yesterday, the North Atlantic Cont
mental Conference was re-established
and the rate war, which was already in
its preliminary stages, was brought to
an end on these important trade routes.
The United American Lines agreed to
return to the conference. from which
i resigned last Thursday. Freight
rates will be restored to the level pre-
vsiling before the break last week.
In announcing an understanding on
the general question of re-establishing
the conference ". J. Love, vice -presi-
dent of the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton, said that number of details re-
manned to be worked out, and would
be taken up at another meeting to- day.
Mr.. Love said that the basis of the
restoration of the conference was q
division of the former unwieldy organ
ization into at least two, if not three,
parts. Instead of one body control
ling rates 20 French, German, Belgian
and Dutch ports, the French lines will
remain separate. and the German lines
and Dutch. This is expected to simp-
lify the problems which arise from
time to time
French Line Not Present
Some significance was attached yes
terday TO the absence of representa-
tives of the French Line from the
conference. Mr.. Love, it is under
stood. attem pied to reach French Line
officials on the phone, but was not sue
cessful The report was revived that
this company, which precipitated a rate
war last spring, was dissatisfied with
the present situation. but there was
nothing to confirm this. Efforts of re-
porters to reach officials of the COM
pany brought the answer that they
were out and would not return during
the day.
While reconciliation was being eff
fected on the Continental trade routes
yesterday new trouble developed in the
Mditerranean traffic. The conference
on the west coast of Italy disbanded.
and steamship companies gave up any
concerted control of rates. The con-
ferences on French Mediterranean and
North Africa and also the Spanish and
Portuguese routes collapsed last week
With these three out of operation,
freight rates to the western Mediter-
ranean are open, but this situation was
not regarded so seriously as the threat
ened hostilites on the north Atlantic
Heavy Drop in Rates
Rates on sugar from New York to
Marseilles have dropped from 81 to Sc
ton, oil from 50 to S1.75 barrel
and general cargo from $50 to SIS a
ton. Rates on sugar from New York
to Genoa have fallen from SO to ST, and
on Gil from 10 to 80 cents hundred
weight
The meeting at 10 Bridge Street yes
terday developed into one of the most
ated sessions in recent months. 1t
seemed until l o'clock that continu-
ance of the rate war was inevitable as
no agreement could be reached. The
final understanding, Mr.. Love said. was
due to the spirit of give and take
Further details of the new policy will
be announced to-day after another dis
cussion.
Mr.. Love expects to stay in New York
for several days. He expressed him
self yesterday as every much encour-
aged with the action of the marine
underwriters in appointing a commit
tee TO work with the Shipping Board
on cargo insurance rates The COM
mittee to represent the board probably
will not be named until his return to
Washington, he said.