Mr. Runciman on Tuesday appeased some of the dis- appointment
caused by his announcement of a conditional shipping subsidy last week. He owed much to Sir Stafford Cripps, who exulted academically on the difficul- ties of a capitalist shipping system to the exclusion of real criticism. Sir Herbert Samuel was effective in preferring the immediate use of punitive port dues on foreign subsi- dized ships to the policy of fighting subsidies with subsi- dies. The shipowners—Sir Herbert Cayser and Colonel Ropner—seemed chiefly concerned to obtain more and easier subsidies, but the House gained from them support of the common-sense proposal to refrain from supplying foreign competitors with surplus British ships at bargain prices. Impartial members liked Mr. Runciman's insis- tence that shipowners should put their house in order, though they remained puzzled about why he has waited so long before seeking the co-operation of the Dominions and of foreign countries who do not subsidize their ships.
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