The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-13

shipping policies but the manner in which
North Carolina supports the effort to raise this
and the states other ports to maximum use
fitness and service. In this effort some O.
Mr. Roths explanations and conclusions
should prove of value in the promotion Of
the ports
AS to the merchant fleet, he said:
ut is obvious to everyone that by no stretch
of the imagination will this country be able
to fully utilize this colossal volume of war
built merchant tonnage for commercial pur-
poses. It has been estimated that under the
most favorable circumstances We shall have
surplus of approximately 20 million tons
beyond our own defense and commercial re-
qurements and possible sales to foreign pur-
chasers. Pending Ship Sales legislation pro-
vides that at the end Of two years all ton
mage in excess of our commercial and defense
requirements shall either be junked or with
sanctuary.
''At this moment it is most difficult to es-
innate with any degree of accuracy how many
ships we shall be able to employ profitably
in either our domestic or overseas trades.
Before the war, about 10 per cent, or
roughly million lightweight tons, were en-
gagged in domestic commerce I doubt that we
shall be able to increase, or even maintain,
an equivalent postwar tonnage in the domestic
trades unless coastal and intercoastal freight
rates are increased and handling costs are
reduced.
The number Of American ships which can
be employed in our postwar international COM
merce will depend upon many uncertain fac
tors, including the following-volume and ma
ture of our exports and imports removal of
embargoes, Empire preferences and various
restrictions which discriminate against Amer
lean products and shipping services; terms
and conditions Of international loans; time re-
quired for economic recovery of foreign ma
lions; extent to which other maritime coun-
tries increase their merchant fleets; distri-
button OF Axis trade and shipping services
among the various maritime nations. and
ability of American ships to compete success
fully with foreign ships which operate at much
lower costs.
1t has been estimated by competent au-
thorities that the maximum number of Amer
lean ships which we can expect to employ
profitably in foreign trade will be about 800
vessels, or roughly, twice the prewar figure.
This estimate is based on two assumptions:
First, that our imports and export will double
over the 1887 figure; secondly, that we shall
achieve our goal Of carrying so percent of
our own exports and imports in American
bottoms. The percentage OF United States
foreign trade carried by American ships de-
cllned to as low as II per cent in the years
l9ll-l5. In the period between the two wars
it ranged from Is to 81 per cent. It was
approximately Is IL per cent in 1888. The
extent to which our foreign commerce will be
carried in American bottoms will depend
largely upon cooperation between American
foreign traders and American ship operators. -
Mr. Roth calls attention to recommendations
by the transportation and communication Sec
ton OF the International Business Conference
at Rye, N. Y last November, which was at
tended by representatives from fifty.one coun
tries. They are:
(a) That ways and means be provided
for more general acceptance and use of
standardized negotiable through bills of
lading;
CD That the handling Of commercial
documents in the consulates of many
countries be sinplifed and, wherever pos
slble, completely eliminated;
tc) mat rules and regulations govern
ing international transit be liberalized and
standardized;
cd That for purposes of business travel
and study the system of visas be abol-
ished
(e) That the issuance of passports and
other necessary documents of identifica-
ton be simplified and speeded up; and
ID That additional free port or free
zone facilities be created at such points
where the goods Of the world are dis
tributed, and that these ports and zones
be provided with adequate storage and
handling facilities.
These recommendations are no less advis-
able now that the, shooting has stopped on a
world scale than when the war was still in
progress.