The Washington times., 1922-06-29
FACTS ARE
GIVEN TO
CONGRESS
Deliberate Attempt to Discredit
Fleet Revealed by Congress-
r., man Edmunds.
BY WINDER r. HARRIS,
-. Universal Service.

BY WINDER r. HARRIS,
f.. Universal Service.
"A direct body blow aimed by
The British government at the
efforts of President Harding,
Chairman Lasker, of the Shipping
Board, and Administration sup
porters IN Congress to build up
an American merchant marine
was exposed by Congressman
George w. Edmonds, of Pennsyl-
vania, ranking Republican on the
House Merchant Marine Commit
tee, today.
- Charges Propaganda
y Congressman Edmonds, who
headed the subcommittee that re-
drafted the pending ship subsidy bill.
also charged that British agents
rushed to this country and pro-
British newspapers here started the
campaign Of antagonism about liquor
ON American ships for the obvious
purpose Of further handicapping
American competition with British
shipping.
The direct blow aimed at the
American merchant marine by the
British government, Congressman
Edmonds disclosed. comes through
the promulgation Of new rules for
the Suez canal. This astonishing ac.
ton was called to the attention OF
every member of Congress in a
formal communication addressed to
them by the Pennsylvania Congress-
nan 1t prompted vigorous expires.
aions ol resentment and ,did much to
ll&1a t{roant for M 0f
the subsidy legislation.
- What Rules Provide.
The new rules provide with re-
gard to tankers:
..t'In order, to be allowed to enter
the canal or it's ports, either with
benzine or ordinary petroleum,
tankers must be specifically classed
for: carrying petroleum in bulk in
one of the following categories:
4 Highest class. Lloyds in London.
Highest class, Bureau Veritas.
Highest class, German Lloyds
Rerlin).
:"Hishest class, British Corpora
ton Glasgow"
Pointing out the significance Of
this, Congressman Edmonds ex-
planned:
:. "Conspicious by it's absence from
the designated classification societies
Is the American Bureau Of Shipping
which by the Merchant Marine act
of 1920 was made the official classifi-
cation society Of the United States
Government.
The direct effect of this rule is to
debar ST. ,s45 gross tons of Govern:
ment-owned American tankers. all
tankers belonging to the United
States Navy Department and 223,S94
tons of privately-owned American
tankers, from the use of the Suez
Canal.
1T should be noted that the Brit.
ish Government itself is the largest
single stockholder in the Suez Canal
Company and undoubtedly 1t wields
great influence in the management
and operation of the canal.
Fortunately for US, we have the
control Of the Panama Canal and II
necessity arises, our Government can
demand fair treatment in the Suez
Canal with every hope of success
because of that fact.
This mater was brought officially
to. the attention of the State Depart.
ment by the United States Consul at
Alexandria, Egypt"
IL Reveals British Plan.
Pointing to the British hand be-
hind the liquor attack. Congressman
Bdmonds said:
aS".A short time ago there landed
IN. New, York the officials of soms
of the British papers interested in
shipping. These men came here
with the ayowed purpose Of pro-
tecting their home interests, as far
as possible. from any legislation in
Congress leading toward the up
building of our merchant marine.
M"They were particularly opposed
10 the proposed arrangement which
would give to the American ships
the carrying Of so per cent Of the
immigrants coming to this coun.
try, and realized the immense value
of this to our passenger lines op-
Grating from here, but they found
their efforts In the way Of quiet
threats unavailing.
lit is peculiar. although there Is
no method Of connecting them with
II. that shortly after their arrival
In this country there started in q