Show Af AYS FORCED HIM TO 10 R RESIGN IG IGi Denman Testifies in Investigation i ga gation of Shipping S Boards Board's ActS Di Dec IL I of th the th British mission which visited the United States State in 1917 1911 attempted to influence the policies of ot th the shipping ship ship- pin ping pIn board bOard William Denman of San Francisco o first chairman of ot th the board testified today before the special house bouse committee commit investigating the boards board's operations operation Mr Penman Denman Indicated his hi Insistence Insist insist- sacs ence that the shipping board be tree free from British influence had mo more to todo todo todo do with his hie resignation as chairman of ot the board than say any other one thing I I In this connection said ald I I that If he could obtain the permission of ot President Wilson Wilo for tot the disclosure I I of or certain ph phases of ot shipping board negotiations one 18 of Qt the 8 sources f of ot I In interference With wita my administration I a as head of ot the board may be dis- dis dis closed d. d I To support his charge of ot attempts of ot the British mission to influence the policies of ot the board Mr Denman Den Den- man said that in April 1917 when he was wa attempting to organize an administrative board in New York to function with the shipping board on on a n purely American basis basi he discovered die dis I f covered that without his knowledge Sir Connop G a member of ot the I British mission that had just juat arrived In this thle country was made mad a a. member of ot the advisory bod body I dont don't know how he got on that board It board it all happened between noon and half ties three o'clock one afternoon after after- noon noon but but I 1 can tell you how he got gotoff off ott Mr Denman Penman declared I learned that three or four members members mem mem- bers ben of ot the British mission had at attended attended attended at- at tended the de ion at I w l h the he se selection selection se- se lection was wa made Afterwards a ds the shipping hIPping board had a warm s session It lasted twenty minutes and all that had been transacted at the previous I session was wiped out We wanted British cooperation but we want Great BrIt Britain ln to influence our board hoard until we wes ha had gotten things under way We Ve were still stUl in the air to alry-to as to what we wanted to do and the policy of the British In Inthis inthis this connection seemed very extraordinary extraordinary I to me |