"Into North Sea Next"

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 11

"Into North Sea Next"

What United States May Do Mr. Britten on I’m Alone Sinking (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright ) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 11.55 a.m. WASHINGTON’, Wednesday. "IF tlie United States is going to chase ships 200 miles off * the coast and sink them because they are suspected of rum-running, it will be able te chase them through the Unglish Channel into the North Sea, and sink them there. Such acts lead to war.”

Mr. F. A. Britten, chairman of the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives, made this declaration to-day, commenting on the situation created by the sinking of the British schooner I’m Alone by the U.S. coastguard cutter Dexter in the Gulf of Mexico. The situation, he said, was a very serious one. "I would not be surprised if the incident results in strained relations between the United States, Canadian and British Governments,” he added The French Consulate at New Orleans informed the French Embassy to-day that the seaman who lost his life in the sinking of the schooner was a French subject. BRITISH CONSUL’S REPORT It is learned from reliable sources that the report of the British Con-sul-General at New Orleans, Mr. Henry Tom, says that the I’m Alone was 14i miles from the shore when she was shelled by the Dexter and that even had she been closer it was Mr. Tom’s opinion that she would have been outside the coastguard’s jurisdiction. The report says the Consul-General believes the crew of the schooner were imprisoned without being given an opportunity to secure legal representation. So far as the sinking of the ship is concerned, Mr. Tom is said to have expressed the opinion that under the terms of the Liquor Ship Treaty between the United States and Britain, no right is given to any ship of the United States Government to sink a vessel flying the B_ritish flag anywhere. Mr. Tom is reported to have advised his Embassy that, he accepts as truth the charges made by Captain Randall. • In semi-official circles it is believed that the British Government will be influenced to make representations to Washington, inasmuch as the right of one ship to transfer cargo of any kind to another ship outside the territorial waters of the United States never has been questioned. Also the British Consul-General at New Orleans is said to be annoyed by the attitude of the customs officials there. He is said to resent the fact that statements were taken from

the accused members of the crew of the I’m Alone before they had conferred with a Consular official. The difficulties of conferring with the members of the crew are said to have inspired a request for a personal interview from the ConsulGeneral himself. REPORT FOR CANADA COASTGUARDS’ VERSION OF AFFAIR British Official Wireless Reed. 11.10 a.m. RUGBY, Wednesday. The Hon. Vincent Massey, Canadian Minister at Washington, called yesterday at the Washington State Department and conferred with Mr. W. R. Castle, junr., Assistant-Secretary of State, on the sinking of the I’m Alone. It Is understood that he will receive, when it is completed, a copy of the report of the United States Customs and Coastguard authorities on the incident. In the meantime at New Orleans the trial has been postponed for a week of the captain and crew, who have been released on bail. ENGLAND WATCHING IN TOUCH WITH AMBASSADOR British Official Wireless Reed. 10.10 a.m. RUGBY, "Wednesday. The British Government is considering the sinking of the I’m Alone with the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir Esme Howard.