A SHIPPING WAR

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 6

A SHIPPING WAR

BRITAIN AND THE U.S. CUNARD COMPANY MAY GO TO COURT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, December 28. (Received December 29, at 8.10 a.in.) What is regarded in some quarters as tantamount to a shipping war between Britain and the United States for the South American trade took a more serious turh to-day, with the publication by the Cunard' Line of a statement giving a hint of possible court action against the United States Shipping Board. The statement was in the form of a letter to Mr P. F. O’Connor, chairman of the Shipping Board, from Mr Robert Blake, associate director of the Cunard Line, and charged the board with violation cf the United States Federal Statute. The Cunard Company resented the board’s action in placing the steamship President Roosevelt at the disposal of the Ward Lines, after the Cunard Company had announced that the Cnnardor Caronla would be used for the Havana service. The Caronia started her initial voyage on tho new run with a full passenger list on December 27, and the President Roosevelt will start her first Havana trip on January 5. which coincides with the date of the Caronia’s second voyage. Mr O’Connor had stated that the board was merely following its customary policy cf aiding the American Merchant Marine companies, but the Cunard statement charged the board with violation of section 14 of the Shipping Act, 1920, which bars the use_ of a “ fighting ship,” which it defines ns under; “The term •fighting ship’ in tins Act mean* a vessel used in a par. licular trade by a carrier, or group of carriers, for the purpose of excluding, preventing, or competition, by driving another carrier out of the said trade.” The Cunard statement concluded: “ Our proper course in such circumstances as those which now confront us would naturally be to refer the matter to your board, but as the ship involved [ is the board’s vessel, and is put into tho trade on tho terms above described | by the board, we may find it necessary, i if we arc damaged to any appreciable extent, to appeal to the courts for relief.”