The Effects of the Conference System

Alfred Jones’ success in promoting Elder Dempster’s interests led almost inevitably to an enhancement of his own personal situation, and ultimately to a knighthood. When he gained control of Elder Dempster in 1884 the Company managed the British and African Steam Navigation Company, but had only a working arrangement with its principal competitor, the African Steam Ship Company. By 1890 Jones had secured the management of the latter firm and from that time onward the two British shipping firms worked as a single integrated unit under his leadership. This achievement, however, was not sufficient to satisfy his ambitions. It was