The Washington times., 1923-04-15
HARDING BACKS
PLAN FOR j. s.
TRADE FLEET
Executive viii Operate Msr-
chant Marine Until Private
Buyers Offer Fair Prices
EXPECTS AID OF CONGRESS-
President Ready to abandon
Opposition to Federal Own.
ership to Keep Flag on Sea
By WILLIAM P. FLYTHE,
Universal Service.

Universal Service.
President Harding announced
yesterday, following a conference
with the Shipping Board, thai
plans have been worked out x
operate the American merchant
marine in spite Of every obstacle
For q period Of many months
the Government will devote It's
time to building up foreign trade
lines. These will then be offered
for sale to private interests.
KEEP SHIPS GOING.
If the price offered is not salts.
factory, the Government, in no way
dismayed, will itself undertake the
task of making the American mer-
chant marine mistress of the seven
seas.
With feeling, the President de-
clared that while this AdminIstra.
ton is committed to the policy of
private ownership rather than Gov.
eminent ownership, it would not
hesitate to reverse this policy and
vigorously enter the shipping bust.
ness rather than sacrifice one unit
of the fleet.
-. :. 1850 1851 So ~ A6BKGBe fO1 the
shipping Board, added that this in
erect commits the Administration
10 government operation of the fleet.
There IL little hope that nrivate
interests win offer prices for the
ships which are acceptable" he said
They are not bluffing. we are
not either. and will operate them
ourselves. This is our answer to
the British interests which defeat.
ed the ship subsidy, and our answer
10 the private interests who want ia
buy our ships for a song.
Inc PRESIDENT issued this formal
statement TO outline the definite
rine. ll'@
After an extended conferAnns
w SL the fun membership OF the
shipping Board, and 4 thoraueI
discussion OF the problems fs Is
solved. the board unanimously agreed
with the Presidents concurrence
tnat the chief end to be sought 4
the establishment and maintenance
OF an American Merchant Marine.
CITES SUBSIDY FAILURE.
With the failure of the suhsia.
act the board is confronted win
IT'S vast possession of ships and the
heavy losses under the existine
plan Of allocated operations, undeI
managing agen4s.
In compliance with the shinnir<
act the board will proceed al ons:.
to the consolidation of foreign 4rodt
| lines. and then offer the sale n
these lines and ships under the
authorization Of the law, condition
ed on suitable guaranty of main
tained service.
"n such sales cannot be made
without untustifiable sacrifice 81
the ships. then the Government
VIII proceed to direct Government,
operation aggreastveIy pursued. IN
short, there is unanimous agree
ment that the existing law con
adequate and maintained MERIDIAN,
Marine. and such q course win bs
followed rs will fully guarantee Il
and contemplate its larger de
VelOprnent."
The President added that the
| sale. or future. Of the merchant
fleet could be worked out undel
the existing law, the Jones mer
chant marine act.
He said that even should the
Government incur deficit in its
operations. that he was confident
that both Congress and the people
would approve the course followed
! rather than to see the fleet scrap
ped or peddled for a song.
When Congress meets again the
President expects to have the des
tiny Of the shipping so well shaped
that Congress will, IL necessary
appropriate funds to continue Gov
eminent operation until the private
interests come into the market with
q reasonable offer.