Abstract
The events between 1925 and 1934, leading ultimately to the merger of The Cunard Steam Ship Co. Ltd and White Star Line (Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd), are extremely complicated and difficult to follow. This arises from the fact that there were three areas of controversy each impinging on the other, involving at times separate and at other times joint, matters for negotiation. Firstly there was the growing involvement of the White Star Line with the mounting financial difficulties of the Royal Mail group of which this company had become a part, difficulties which were undoubtedly aggravated by the adverse trading conditions at the beginning of the 1930s. Secondly, there was the promotion of policy by The Cunard Steam Ship Co. to inaugurate a weekly two-ship express service acrosss the Atlantic, a policy which could be implemented only by putting into service ships of great size and power. Finally there was, at a somewhat later stage in the proceedings, participation of government departments and the provision of government finance as instruments in the salvation of White Star and in the building of the new large Cunarders.
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Notes
N. Davies and A. M. Bourn, ‘Lord Kylsant and the Royal Mail’, Business History XIV, No. 2, July 1972, 103–23.
Ibid.
CP, Provisions of the Scheme of Arrangement; P. N. Davies and A. M. Bourn, op. cit., loc. cit.
Ibid.; the moratorium was agreed pending the preparation of the Scheme of Arrangement.
Ibid.
Eaves, op. cit., under 1935.
Ibid., 6.
Ibid.
CP, Note of interview between Sir Frederick Lewis and Sir Percy Bates, July 1930.
Runciman’s invitation was dated 24 July 1930.
J. Lister under date July 1930.
Ibid.
CP, Correspondence, Sir Percy Bates to Sir Ashley Sparks, 28 July 1930; BM, July 1930.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
CP, Memorandum by Sir Percy Bates of interview, 30 July 1930.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid., BM, August 1930.
CP, Correspondence, S. J. Lister to Sir Percy Bates, 30 July 1930, referring to Sir Percy’s statements.
CP, Correspondence, Sir Percy Bates to Walter Runciman, 31 July 1930.
CP, Correspondence, Sir Ashley Sparks to Sir Percy Bates 28 July; Sir Percy Bates to Sir Ashley Sparks, 5 August 1930.
Ibid.
Ibid.
CP, Correspondence, Sir Percy Bates to Walter Runciman, 15 October 1930.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
CP, H. Eaves, op. cit., under 1928; the members of the committee were Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, Bart, Chairman, Engineer Vice-Admiral R. W. Skelton, The Hon C. A. Parsons, Andrew Lainge, A. C. F. Henderson, G. McL. Paterson, Sir Thos Bell, Commander C. W. Craven, R.N., Andrew Hamilton, John Austin and J. Rennie, Secretary. This committee held meetings on 6 December 1928 and 11 January 1929 but no definite decisions were reached. Douglas Lobley in The Cunarders (1969), p. 46, states that Queen Mary ‘the first ship on the drawing board, grew in sketch form during 1926’.
Ibid.
D. Lobley, The Cunarders, op. cit., and other official Cunard publications.
Ibid.
Ibid., 10 December 1931.
Ibid.
D. Lobley, The Cunarders, op. cit., and other official Cunard publications.
CP, Chancellor of Exchequer to Sir Percy Bates, 1 March 1932.
Ibid.
CP, Lord Weir’s report; Sir Percy Bates to Lord Essendon, 28 February 1933.
CP, Lord Essendon to Sir Percy Bates, 20 February 1933.
CP, Mediation note on the North Atlantic problem; Lord Weir to Sir Percy Bates, 14 March 1933.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid, 50.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
A. Bates to Lord Weir, 10 June 1933; note of interview between Sir Percy Bates and Lord Weir, 12 June 1933.
Ibid.
Ibid.
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© 1975 Francis E. Hyde
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Hyde, F.E. (1975). No. 534 and the formation of Cunard White Star Limited. In: Cunard and the North Atlantic 1840–1973. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-02390-5_7
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