TOLD TO GET OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 28 October 1939, Page 7

TOLD TO GET OUT

CITY OF FLINT SOVIET INSTRUCTION "SOON AS POSSIBLE" WASHINGTON VIEW ''X'f ) H BERLIN OPINIONS (Reed. Oet. 27, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 26. The Moscow radio to-day announced that the Murmansk authorities, after a scrutiny of the cargo ordered, the departure as soon as possible of the American freighter City of Flint, which was captured by Germans while en route to England from America and taken by a prize crew to Murmansk.

A message from Washington referring further to the announcement of the American Secretary of State. Mr. Cordell Hull, that the United States Government has demanded that the Soviet return the City of Flint and her cargo to her American crew, says Mr. Hull explained that the demand, which was presented through the Ambassador to Russia, was based oh the conception of the United States Government of the items of international’; Taw involved, namely the Supreme Court’s decision on 'the Appam case, in which a vessel sent to an American port by the German raider Moewe in 1916 was ordered to be released and on article 21, 1907, of the Hague Convention, under which a prize ship could be taken' to a neutral port only in the event of exceptional circumstances like a breakdown, after. which it must be released when repaired Mr. -Hull, said he was without definite information that the City of Flint entered Murmansk for repairs. An American representative at Moscow wa* being sent to Murmansk to determine, the facts. 'fmngaggegtion of Repairs

Mr. Hto!i Intimated that representaalso been made in Berlin for;- the release of the City of Flint,land he reiterated the conviction that ; the cargo was under 50 per cent contraband, thus barring the right under international lav; to confiscate iU;v hi I '. ; V V

According to a Berlin message Germany /sent a memorandum to the United- States stating that the crew of die City of Flint was safe. Official quarters. In-Berlin expected the Russians; to hand over the City of Flint to Germany, as soon as she was seaworthy, , Itfis officially stated in Berlin that the cauture and boarding of the City of Flint were legal, because of the contraband, aboard. It is claimed in Berlin that international law justified taking the vessel to Murmansk. Complaints could only be heard in the Prize Court.