FUTURE OF THE WHITE STAR LINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 165, 7 April 1919, Page 10

FUTURE OF THE WHITE STAR LINE

THE DISCUSSION IN THE UNITED STATES. Some light on recent cablegrams inferring to the future control of the fleet of the International Mercantile Marine Corporation was recently afforded by a correspondent of the London "Times,'" who says:—Shipping authorities continue to be keenly -interested in the future of tho British lines controlled by the Juterliatioiml Mercantile Marino Company, which suggests interesting possibilities. On tho one hand there has been the refusal of the United States Shipping Board to permit the salo to a British syndicate of tho ships controlled by tho International Mercantile Marino Com. pany, but flying the British flag, and, on tho other, tho willingness of the United States Government, officially announced, to purchiiso the vessels on the terms of tho. British offer, which is .popularly supposed to bo 00,000,000 dollars (.£18,000,000), and work them as Government-own-ed ships. Tho whole question, has been much <.iecussed in tho American Press, and particularly an announcement by Mr. Bainbtidge Colby, iv Shipping Board Commissioner, to tho effect that "it was under complete ■■agreement with the British Government that the United States Shipping Board decided to take over tbo International Mercantile Marine Company's fihipa flying the British ling." This is JLlio first announcement that any eueh_ ''decision" had been taken by tho United States Government. Discussing this ques. lion, the New York "Journal of Commerce." in its issue of-November 29, suggests that aft assurance line been given fc} the British Admiralty that the large volume,of tonnage which was under construction in American yards for British account, and was requisitioned in July, 1917 should be restored.. It .is; argued thnt the tonnage now under, construction in the American yards is almost exclusively of the ca-rgo-ciirryin? type, which is urgently needed in British trade, whereas the vessels of the White Star nnd other (British lines, which now form part of the International Mercantile Marine Company, are largely passenger ships, and would be correspondingly acceptable to the United States. , It should, liowevor, lie pointed out that no class of British ship bas Buffered during tho war more severely than.the liner, which has been employed for a variety of services, such ns armed cruisers, transports, and hospital ships, and every British line is feeliun the loss of this high-class tonnage, which takes a long time to replace. As yet there is .-ery little sign of its being replaced. The Whito Star Line, of which the Olympic is the chief unit, has rendered splendid service during the war. The Atlantic Transport Line is another highly important British fleet forming part of tho International Mercantile Marine. Ever'since the stock/>f tho British companies was acquired 'many years ago by the Morgan Syndicate, their anomalous position. has been discussed, and it is only right to point out that (ho removal of 'the British ships from the Brltlsn JJegiste-r would undoubtedly be felt deeply by tho British jrtople for a number of Teasoiis, not tho least of which would be that of sentiment. That is a feeling which the United States will appreciate fully and generously. Mr. Harold Sanderson," tho British representative of the International Mercantile Marine Company in this country, is now in New York in connection, it is understood, with _ the future of tho company and of its British units, and it is reasonable to assume that no change in the status of the vessels flying the British flag will bo contemplated, at any rate, until- after a full statement of the position has been given to the country.