The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-13
FOR AMERICAN SHIPS

ia FOR AMERICAN SHIPS :.
The protests of commercial bodies of
Great Britain and Japan against the enforce
ment of that portion of the merchant, marine
laws of the United States designed to give
preference to vessels under the American
flag point to the unhappy position in which
many American. bodies have placed them
selves by joining in similar protest against
this essential feature of our marine laws.
As all issues must come to "a particular
crisis, so has come the crisis in the effort
Of the United, States to establish the princi-
pie for preference for its ships. Against this
effort is the protest of those nations who
favor the ships of the same protesting ma
tons Whether in this crisis American citi-
gems will be misled to join in the subtle, but
none the less direct. effort to neutralize the
program Of the United States, to protect the
commerce of this nation is of major national
consequence. y r
1t is undeniably true that if American
flag.ships are denied preference in treat
ment, and are not given that same form of
support extended the ships of other nations by
their governments and their nationals, retro
erosion, and not advancement, will follow.
In finality will come abandonment of the
purpose of the congress to establish mer-
chant marine, the duty Of which was placed
upon the United States Shipping Board.
Even though there be "a temporary dis
trrbance in the flow of American commerce
through the granting of the export and i'm
mort rates only to vessels of American reg
istry, as contrary to the present policy of
granting the same benefit TO foreign ships,
the fact inescapably remains. that, unless the
American merchant marine can receive
the ships of other nations the merchant ma
rine effort will be crippled so as to destroy
its present protective Influence in having
voice in the determination OF the ocean rates
imposed upon the flow of all American COM
merce. The rail transportation rates OF the
United States are clearly domestic and the
Interstate Commerce Commission follows the
policies defined by congress. The only voice
in the determination of ocean freight charges
is through the operation of ships at sea under
the flag Of the nation desiring to protect its
nationals against excessive ocean charges.
American exporters, marine associations and
groups financially affiliated with foreign
shipping interests but assist in bringing this
destructive, condition about when they strike
hands with foreign influences to deny the
right of the United States to give prefer
ence to the ships operating under the flag
Of this nation.
As developed in the hearings on this ques-
t;on before a committee of the congress last
week, the moment has come when determine
ton is to be reached as to whether the
United States will submit to the principle
that America must be without voice in the
determination Of the ocean freight charges
to be levied upon American commerce, or
whether it will maintain, in spirit unde-
tered and unHinchable, the right to the
naval security offered by an American mer-
chant marine with the economic protection
assured through the United States having
voice in the promotion expansion and pro-
lection of commerce on the seven seas.