traffic, except coffee, to the same destinations. Headquarters of both are at San Francisco and they have the same address and same secretary. Copies of conference agreements are not available in Guatemala, but those applicable to trade with the United States are on file at the Maritime Commission. Rates on coffee, the principal item of export, are on file at the offices or agencies of the lines, where they may be consulted by the public. There is only one trade organization of importance in Guatemala, the Camara de Comercio e Industria de Guatemala (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Guatemala), and this organization does. not take an active part in shipping matters. Lower rates are charged shippers who contract with the conferences in the United States trade, and deferred rebates are granted shippers who support the conference in the trade to Europe. It is noteworthy that the International Railways of Central America participate in these rebates. The provisions are outlined in the copy of a rebate advice notice, shown at the end of this section. The Government does not exercise any authority over rates. The trade affords no opportunity for the employment of tramp ships. PUERTO BARRIOS, LIVINGSTON, AND PUERTO CORTEZ TRAFFIC TO EUROPE: SEASON 1936-37 REPATE ADVICE NOTE Shippers of coffee through-freighted to Europe from interior stations in Guatemala of the International Railways of Central America and shipped from Puerto Barrios, shippers of coffee from Livingston and Puerto Cortez to Europe, and shippers of produce (other than coffee) from Puerto Barrios, Livingston, and Puerto Cortez to Europe will be granted a deferred rebate of 10 percent subject to the following conditions and exceptions: Deferred rebate will be 19 percent of the net freight paid as per bills of lading, from free alongside vessel at port of shipment to terminal port in Europe. Note. In the case of shipments from Guatemala through-freighted from stations on the International Railways of Central America, the deferred rebate will be allowed on the through rate, but deferred rebate on the Railway Company's proportion of the freight will, if admitted, be paid by the International Railways of Central America. The rebate will be computed for the season 1936-37, i. e., on shipments from November 1, 1936 (bill of lading date), to October 31, 1937 (bill of lading date), and will be payable after April 30, 1938, but only to shippers who, until such due date of payment have not made or been interested, directly or indirectly, as principals, agents, buyers, or sellers, or in any other capacity whatsoever in any shipment or contract contemplating shipment by them or any ether party whether under c. i. f., c. and f., f. o. b., and f. a. s., ex works, ex warehouse, ex plantation, or any other conditions whatsoever— 1. Of coffee from Puerto Barrios to Europe moving under other than the through-rating arrangement established by International Railways of Central America in conjunction with the Association. 2. Of produce other than coffee from Puerto Barrios, and of coffee and/or other produce from Livingston and Puerto Cortez to Europe, other than via— Compaignie Generale Transatlantique; Compania Transatlantica de Barcelona; Hamburg-Amerika Linie; Thomas and James Harrison; Royal Mail Lines, Ltd.; Royal Netherlands Steamship Co.: Societa "Italia" (Flotte Riunite Cosulich, Lloyd Sabaudo, Navigazione Generale) and Navigazione Libera Triestina, S. A. (From 1.1.37. Societa' Ligure di Navigazione in Liquidazione and "Italia" Societa Anonima di Navigazione) or by the vessels of any of these lines to Cristobal and thence by the vessels of Johnson Line and Fred Olsen & Co. (Norway Pacific Line) to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Baltic ports, including Danzig/Gdynia, but excluding German Baltic ports, or 77669-38--10 by the vessels of Det Ostasiatiske Kompagni, or by the vessels of United Fruit Co. with transhipment. Of coffee from Limón, Central American (Pacific) ports and Mexican (Pacific) ports to Europe other than as provided for in the separate rebate advice notes relating to those spheres. Claims for rebate must be made out in triplicate on forms which can be obtained from any of the agents of the above-mentioned steamship lines. (Where two carriers are concerned claims should be made out in quadruplicate.) Separate claims must be rendered to each company in connection with shipments by each respective line. Claims will only be acknowledged provided they are signed by the person(s) or firm(s) appearing on the bill of lading as shipper(s). If forwarding agents are employed, such forwarding agents must fill in separate forms for each shipper, and both shipper and forwarding agent must sign the claim form. All claims in connection with shipments up to October 31, 1937. must be presented by shippers (or their forwarding agents, if employed) duly signed, to the agents of the shipowners by which the shipments have been made. Claims must be presented not before November 1, 1937, nor later than January 31, 1938, after which date no claims will be acknowledged. Payment to be made to shippers or their nominees after April 30, 1938, subject to everything being in order. No rebate will be allowed on the following: Cargo rated at ad valorem rates; cargo marked "open" in the tariff; additional freight charges for delivery at post terminal destinations; additional charges for option; minimum bill of lading rates; on goods for which the rates are specially stated as being net. The Association of West India Trans-Atlantic Steamship Lines. London, November 1, 1936. REBATE CLAIM NOTE Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, Compania Transatlantica de Barcelona, Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Thomas and James Harrison, Johnson Line, Royal Mail Lines, Limited, Royal Netherlands Steamship Co., Societa "Italia" (Flotte Riunite Cosulich, Lloyd Sabaudo, Navigazione Generale) and Navigazione Libera Triestina, S. A. (from 1.1.37, Societa' Ligure Di Navigazione in Liquidazione and "Italia" Societa Anonima di Navigazione.) CLAIM FOR REBATE ON SHIPMENTS TO EUROPE To the agent of the (Place) _19__ (Date) Annexed I/we beg to hand you a list of my/our shipments of produce from Puerto Barrios, Livingston, and Puerto Cortez to Europe during the season November 1, 1936, to October 31, 1937, on which I/we claim a rebate of 10 percent on the net freight paid as per bills of lading from free alongside vessel at port of shipment to terminal port in Europe, according to the terms of the rebate advice note attached hereto. And I/we hereby declare that during the said season, and since, I we have fulfilled the conditions of the rebate advice note. I/we also agree to be entitled to this rebate only if I/we confine my/our shipments to the lines mentioned in the rebate advice note until date of payment. of And I/we request you to pay the rebate due me/us to Messrs__. on my/our behalf. who are authorized by me/us to give you a receipt (Signatures to be those of the firms or of persons duly authorized to sign on their behalf.) Shipper's signature_ Address__ Signature of shipper's agent (if any) at port of shipment_. NOTE. All names to be written very distinctly. Claims will only be acknowledged provided they are signed by the person(s) or firm(s) appearing on the bill of lading as shipper(s). If forwarding agents are employed, such forwarding agents must fill in separate forms for each shipper and both shipper and forwarding agent must sign the claim form. The Association of West India Trans-Atlantic Steamship Lines Two conferences fix rates out of Haiti-the United States Atlantic and Gulf Haiti Conference to the United States, and the Association of West India Trans-Atlantic Steamship Lines to Europe. Their main offices are at New York and London, respectively. Copies of their agreements are not available locally. Tariffs are on file at the offices of the lines in Haiti where they may be consulted. Rate negotiations are by individual shippers. There are no organizations regularly active on behalf of shippers, although the Chamber of Commerce and the Fiscal Representative's Office occasionally take up matters with the lines or conferences. Contract rates are in effect in the trade to the United States and presumably deferred rebates in the trade to Europe. The Government does not exercise any authority over rates. Few if any tramp ships engage in the Haitian trade. It appears that the liners furnish all the space required for sugar, which moves in large bulk. HONDURAS Conferences prevail in Honduras, which is included in the general area of Central America and Mexico for the purpose of rate-making. Reference to them individually and in some detail is contained in the section on Guatemala. Copies of their agreements are not available locally. Those in the trade to the United States are from the west coast only. Tariffs are on file only at the branch offices or agencies of the lines. Rate negotiations are with individual shippers; there is no group representation. The contract and deferred-rebate systems, both are in effect. An account thereof is contained in the sections on Guatemala and San Salvador. The Government does not exercise any authority over rates. INDIA AND BURMA Only limited information is available regarding the procedure of conferences in the trade of India and Burma. Several conferences are active, some offering deferred rebates and others lower contract rates to secure regular patronage. From Calcutta, for instance, there are the following: Calcutta Liners Conference to United Kingdom ports; Calcutta-U. S. A. Conference to United States North Atlantic ports and via these ports to West Indies, Central and South American ports; Calcutta Continental Conference to North Continental (European) ports; Calcutta Trans-Pacific Conference from Calcutta and Rangoon to Honolulu and Pacific ports of North America; Calcutta-Japan Conference via intermediate ports, and Calcutta Indian Coastal Conference between Calcutta and coastal ports in India, Kathiawar, Ceylon, and Burma. In addition there are conferences. from other ports, notably Bombay, Karachi, and Rangoon. An illustration of the method employed by one of the conferences to retain patronage is the offering by the Calcutta Liners Conference of a "general cargo deferred commission" of 10 percent, except on tea and cargo shipped at Government rates. This commission becomes due 3 months after the end of each quarter for which shippers. have fulfilled the requirements. A specimen notice is reproduced herein. It appears that several years ago tea shippers strenuously opposed deferred rebates and at one time assisted in the maintenance of an independent line in competition with conference lines. An account of the incident is contained in an article entitled "The Deferred Rebate System," by S. N. Haji, published in 1923. In place of the deferred rebate on tea freights, the conference lines offer a "discount" effective when the freights are paid. Copies of conference agreements are not available to the public in India. Freight tariffs are on file at the offices of the lines or their agents, and shippers may ascertain rates by application or through brokers. Some publicity, moreover, is given to rates in the press. Conferences deal with individual shippers or with trade organizations. It is reported, however, that usually there are no direct negotiations with trade organizations, since all such organizations are members of or are affiliated with the chambers of commerce in India, with which the conferences themselves are associated. Among the trade organizations are the following: Calcutta Baled Jute Shippers Association, Calcutta Jute Fabrics Shippers Association, Calcutta Hides and Skins Shippers Association, Calcutta Grain Oil Seed and Rice Association, and the Indian Tea Association. The Government does not exercise any authority over rates. Tramp rates are fixed in the open market, to a large extent at London. CALCUTTA LINERS CONFERENCE NOTICE TO SHIPPERS General cargo deferred commissions The undersigned will pay a commission of 10 percent (subject to a maximum of 5 shillings per ton and subject also to clause 2 hereof) on the freight as per B/lading, for shipments of all descriptions of merchandise (other than tea or cargo shipped at Government rates) from Calcutta to all ports in Great Britain and Ireland whether direct or by transshipment. The commission is payable to those only who, until the date at which the commission shall become payable, shall have made their shipments to ports in Great Britain and Ireland of all descriptions of merchandise, including tea, exclusively by vessels despatched by the lines composing the Calcutta Liners Conference, and provided that such shippers, either as principals or agents, have not directly or indirectly made or been interested in any shipments to any port in Great Britain and Ireland, either direct or indirect, or by transshipment, or via a port or place of call, by vessels other than those despatched by the lines composing the Calcutta Liners Conference. 2. No commission will be paid on a bill of lading optional charge whether the option is granted locally or subsequently in the United Kingdom. 3. Commissions are computed in respect of periods of 3 months. The calendar year is, that is to say, divided into four periods: Period I extended from January 1 to March 31, 1920; period II from April 1 to June 30, 1920; period III from July 1 to September 30, 1920; and period IV from October 1 to December 31, 1920. As a matter of convenience, the numbers of the periods run consecutively instead of commencing each year with No. I, and the number of the period to which this circular relates is 51. 4. Commissions are payable 3 months after the date of termination of the respective periods. That is to say, commissions for period 1 are payable on July 1, for period 2 on October 1; for period 3 on January 1 of the following year; and for period 4 on April 1. The conference reserves the right to reject claims submitted later than 1 month after the date on which the commission is payable. 5. Commissions will be paid in Calcutta in cases where the freight has been paid in Calcutta, and claim forms should be submitted in duplicate to the Calcutta agents of the line concerned. Where the freight has been paid at destination, the commissions will be paid in London, and the claim forms should be submitted to Messrs. J. B. Westray & Co., Ltd., 138, Leadenhall Street, London, E. C. 3. Shippers who require nominees in Great Britain or Ireland to collect their commissions should send the necessary letter of authority to Messrs. J. B. Westray & Co., Ltd., or state, on the claim form, to whom the commissions are to be paid, 6. Forms on which application may be made for the payment of commissions can be obtained from the secretary, Calcutta Liners Conference, Royal Exchange, Calcutta. Separate forms are issued for the different periods, and according to whether the freight was paid in Calcutta or at destination; shippers should, therefore, when applying for the forms, state the period and also the place where freight was paid. 7. There is given overleaf a list of the vessels, with sailing dates, on account of which commissions can be claimed in respect of period 51, namely July 1 to September 30, 1932. These commissions are payable on January 1, 1933, and completed claim forms should be submitted either to the lines in Calcutta or to Messrs. J. B. Westray & Co., Ltd., in London, as the case may be, not later than February 1, 1933. For the HARRISON LINE_ For the ANCHOR BROCKLEBANK LINE_ For the ELLERMANS CITY LINE. For the BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGA- Hoare, Miller & Co., Ltd., Agents. Turner, Morrison & Co., Ltd., Joint Gladstone, Wyllie & Co., Agents. Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co., Agents. Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co., Managing Agents. For the CLAN LINE STEAMERS, LTD------ James Finlay & Co., Ltd., Agents. IRAN Inquiries addressed to shipping companies by the American Consul at Tehran obtained no information. It appears, however, from the limitations of trade that there is nothing distinctive in Iran with respect to control of rates, liner or tramp. IRAQ Basra is the only seaport of Iraq and is served by relatively few lines. These maintain their headquarters abroad. The tramp trade |