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FREIGHT WAR, AVERTED WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 22 Danger of an ocean freight war by two large Japanese shipping companies operating between South America and Pacific Coast ports was averted today when the two companies agreed to join the Pacific Coast-River Plata-Brazil rate conference. This action came as a surprise to the United States Maritime Commission, which was prepared to con- , duct lengthy hearings on complaints that the Japanese companies were conducting a j j shipping rate war. In consenting to the set-; tlement of the controversy between the1 ; Japanese and American steamship lines, the , commission found that the Japanese lines i had engaged in practices detrimental to shipping, and adjourned the hearings after taking evidence for two days. Conference rates of ninety cents per bag on coffee shipments from Brazil expires December 31. Negotiations for their renewal probably will be initiated immediately.
