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Manila Chamber of Commerce which is largely Pritish, and is regarded as representing British Firms, recently re- solved to approach the American, Filipino and other Chambers of Commerce and Associations with a view to organizing a
joint protest. In this connection I enclose copy of a leading article on Kay 15th from the "Manila Cablenews- American". a daily paper entirely American orned,
The principal British shipping interests concerned are the Blue Funnel and China Mutual S.S. Lines, but with the recovery of British shipping other interests may be in- volved. Questions of interpretation might also arise in connection with the passenger (and perhaps occasionally freight) service of the Canadian Pacific Ocean Services, as their vessels though not proceeding to an American mort, re- gularly carry passengers whose destination is the United States and who only touch Canadian territory, being booked through and carrying passports showing their stay in Canada to be in transit only. Local British firms have a preponderant interest in the Exports of Sugar, Copra and Hemp generally but only a small interest in these exports to the United States; such interest as there is, however, may be adversely affected by the proposed Shipping Monopoly.
One point about the suggested extension which dif- ferentiates it from the majority of Coastwise Laws is that many ships benefitting under it will visit non-Amrican porta en route
There are a number of vessels which have recently gone direct to the United States, especially to Southern ports,
and/