Threatened by Neutrality

Matson Liners

Threatened by Neutrality Law

THE legislation before the Congress of the United States early in October, by which it was proposed to ensure the neutrality of the United States in the Hitler War, contained conditions which threatened completely to disrupt American shipping organisation in the Pacific.

Urgent representations sent to the United States Government from Los Angeles, at the beginning of October, pointed out that if the proposed neutral ity ban on American ships calling at the Pacific ports of belligerents was en forced, several American lines would be compelled to suspend their services al together. Officials of the Matson Line said that the ban would mean that the Matson liners “Monterey” and “Mari posa", now running between Western American ports and Sydney, would be unable to sail for Australia and New Zealand.

The shipping companies concerned urgently asked the Government to make certain amendments in the legislation as drafted, so as to allow American vessels to trade to British and French ports in the Pacific.

It is confidently expected that the new legislation will be passed—giving the United States in some ways greater free dom of trade with belligerents.

LATER. —It was announced on October 12 that the threatened ban on the Mat son Line would be removed from the Bill