Atlantic Competition The Government's intentions are not as clear as
they should be in regard to the North Atlantic liner services. Its discouragement of the suggested purchase and development of the Red Star Line was severely criticized in the House of Commons last Tuesday ; but Mr. Cham- berlain stated that the Government, having invested money in the rationalization of the North Atlantic shipping industry and eliminated competition between the White Star and Cunard Lines, could not be expected to tolerate new competition from' British sources. Several questions which at 'once present themselves remain unanswered. What is to prevent the Red Star Line from operating under foreign, if not under British, auspices'? And is it intended to create a complete monopoly of the British North Atlantic liner services ? If that is' so, it ought to be clearly stated. We should be presented with one of the most venturesome examples of State Socialism ever contemplated outside the complete Socialist State—and precisely in that sphere, the shipping industry, where it has generally been asserted that Socialism is most unworkable. No one in these days, when Electricity and Traffic Boards are realities, ought to be afraid of the word Socialism, but in the case of the Atlantic services, where British competition can perhaps be eliminated but foreign competition at present cannot, the creation of a Cunard-White Star monopoly is going altogether too far. But why did the spokesman of the Socialist Labour Party object ?
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