Draft:Atlantic Conference
| Date | 1908-1911 |
|---|---|
| Accused |
|
| Charges | Violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act |
The Atlantic Conference, also known as the North Atlantic Passenger Conference,[1] was an organization between international shipping companies to establish a monopoly on the North Atlantic. The organization was born on February 5, 1908, when thirteen companies came to an agreement to limit competition from all lines outside of the conference.
Break up
[edit]On January 4, 1911, the US government under the Sherman Antitrust Act brought a lawsuit against a number of shipping companies.[2][3]
It was alleged the thirteen companies entered into an illegal contract on February 5, 1908, "by which them constituted themselves the Atlantic Conference, with power to impose heavy fines on members of the conference for violation of any articles of agreement and wage competition against all lines outside of the conference."[2] It was alleged that the conference was responsible for forcing the Russian Volunteer Fleet out of business, and that the "Russian-American Line was forced to make terms with the contract and enter its membership."[2] The defendant companies of the lawsuit were the Allan Steamship Company, International Mercantile Marine Company, International Navigation Company, Anchor Line, Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Cunard Line, British & North Atlantic Steam Navigation Company, Hamburg America Line, Holland America Line, North German Lloyd Company, Red Star Line, White Star Line, and lastly the Russian East Asiatic Steamship Company. The lawsuit alleged the Russian-American Line was, "only able to re-enter the New York service through membership in the combine, which it was forced to join at a meeting held September 1, 1909, in Cologne, Germany."[2][4]
Thee members contracts were near expiration at the time of the trial.[5]
Global reaction
[edit]After the conference was exposed, in Russia a bill was drawn in the Duma for the purpose of fighting against the monopoly.[6]
A bill was proposed in the United States Congress by Representative William E. Humphrey, which would bar the accused companies from American ports unless they'd desist from the Atlantic Conference.[7] The bill proposed a penalty forcing the companies that participating in the trust be required to sell each ship adjusted to have violated the anti-trust law.[8]
Also see
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Atlantic Conference Questions: Effects of American Anti-Trust Prosecution". Liverpool Daily Post. Liverpool, Merseyside, England. January 13, 1911. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d "13 Steamer Lines Haled Into Court For Conspiracy: Government Begins Suit to Smash Alleged Trust That Dominates Atlantic". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Ga. January 5, 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "Government Suit Against Atlantic Steamship Lines: Almost All Big Trans-Atlantic Companies Defendants". The Wall Street Journal. Vol. LVII, no. 3. New York, New York. January 5, 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "SUES TO BREAK STEAMSHIP POOL: Government Alleges That Big Atlantic Lines Fixed Rates and Divided Traffic". New York Times. New York, N.Y. January 5, 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "Steamship Men May Dissolve Their Pool: Contracts Between Members Soon Expire and Prosecutions Hold Off Renewals". The New York Times. Vol. LX, no. 19, 346. New York, New York. January 12, 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "Russia Interested: May Pass A Law to Divert Emigrants from the German Lines". The New York Times. New York, New York. January 7, 1911. p. 4.
- ^ "Bill to End Ship Trust: Measure Before Congress - Present Laws Inadequate, Is The Belief". The New York Times. New York, New York. January 14, 1911. p. 3.
- ^ "Ship Trust Case To Be Prosecuted: No Disposition On Government's Part To Drop It". The San Francisco Journal and Daily Journal of Commerce. San Francisco, California. April 19, 1912. p. 1.