Evening star., 1945-01-16
! Plan 10 Offer Britain
ii. ). Merchant Ships
Reported Under Study
By JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

High ranking Government
economists who have been study
ing the postwar shipping prob
lem are convinced that the
United States should sell or
transfer a largespart OF its mer-
chant ships to Great Britain and
other. maritime q nations after
hostilities end, it was learned
authoritatively today.
The matter has been the subject
of several recent conferences be-
tween Vice Admiral Emory S. Land
head of the Maritime Commission
and Will. Clayton, Assistant Secre-
tary of State id charge of inter-
national econ non1les affairs.
These ofiicials, it was learned,
have. become convinced that unless
the United States sells part of its
surplus tonnage other nations will
be compelled to build new ships in
the postwar period and thus add
to the world pool of idle vessels.
Will Have Half of Tonnage.
Estimates compiled by Govern
ment economists indicate that the
United States will end the war with
a merchant marine of some 55, 5,000,-
600 deadweight tons out of a world
total of some $4,000, 900 or 100, ,000,-
900 tons-or more than half of the
worlds shipping. This would COM
pare with only 100000 tons out of
a world total of 72,000,000 which
few the American flag before the
war. In other words, it Is estimated
that the United States has built or
will build by the end of the war
sufficient shipping, even allowing for
losses, to increase its merchant fleet
by more than 10000, 900 tons.
Meanwhile, it is noted, the mer-
chant fleets of such traditional
maritime nations as Great Britain,
Holland and France have suffered
large losses in merchant tonnage.
Naturally they will try to recoup
their positions after the war. And
according to official sources, many
American shipping men agree that
it would be better to sell them sur
plus United States tonnage than
have them enter competition with
new fleets.
However, the United States will
freeze between 100000 and 10,-
100000 tons of its surplus ships, over
and above apparent postwar needs.
for possible war emergency or
some unexpected change in the
world shipping situation. 1t is esti-
mated that this can be done even
though substantial tonnage is sold
to such countries as Britain, France
and Holland.
Studies Extension Plans.
Another question under study, by
the Maritime Commission and State
Department is the extent to which
American shipping lines should be
expanded above the prewar level
The general opinion in these quar-
ters. it is understood, Is that the
expansion should be limited to the
amount that can be accomplished
on a business basis without govern
ment subsidies.
Meanwhile, it was learned that as
the result of the conversations just
concluded here by Richard Law
British Minister of State, with Mr.
Clayton and other government OH
cials. there will be an immediate in
crease-but not a sc large one--in
shipping of supplies to France and
others liberated countries. During
the conversations here Mr.. Law and
the American officials surveyed the
world shipping situation and worked
out certain shortcuts which are ex-
pected to result in a most efficient
use of vessels. ......
Not all the supplies for Europe,
it was pointed out, will come from
the United States. For example,
certain amounts of shipping have
been allocated for the movement
of supplies to France from North
Africa and Great Britain. It has
been decided also not to limit ship
ping strictly to food and essential
consumer goods but to include some
raw materials and industrial equip
ment to step up production in the
liberated countries.
The long-term result of this pol
ICY officials believe, will be to re-
lieve the strain on trans Atlantic
shipping.