SEIZED BY GERMANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 5

SEIZED BY GERMANS

UNITED STATES CARGO STEAMER BOUND FROM NEW YORK TO MANCHESTER TAKEN TO RUSSIAN PORT. AMERICAN CREW DETAINED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. October 23. ' i The Murmansk correspondent of the Tass Agency states that the United States’ freighter City of Flint arrived at Kola Bay under the German flag and manned by a German crew, which had detained the American crew. The Murmansk authorities detained the ship and interned for the present the German crew.

The correspondent adds that the Germans regarded the cargo of tractors, grain fruit, leather, and wax as contraband. A cruiser halted the ship when en route from New York to Manchester and took her to Tromso on Saturday, flying the German flag. A Washington message says the Maritime Commission owns the ship, which is at present leased to the United States Line.

Commission officials believe that the seizure of a neutral carrying at least 51 ■ per cent of contraband is legal, provided the master knew the cargo was contraband. Il it were found that the contraband comprised less than half the cargo, the United States would address both Russia and Germany demanding the ship’s release. The officials added that tractors, leather and wax were contraband, but not fruit and grain, unless it could be proved that they were destined for armed forces. ; There is some speculation whether the seizure is in retaliation for Piesident Roosevelt’s banning of belligerent submarines from American territorial waters. The State Department asked its Minister in Oslo and the Ambassador in Moscow to inquire into the circumstances of the seizure. It is expected that a similar inquiry will be made in Berlin. ,1 . The Maritime Commission announced that the ship was carrying more than 50 separate items, typical of the usual cargo, including lard, ceieals, canned meats, flour, apples, wax, lubricating oil, cotton, sewing machines, ploughs, tractors, asphalt, pitch, grease, machinery, shade-rollers, silk, commercial chemicals, abrasive grains, lumber, gauze, hair and wallboard, totalling 5000 tons. Repercussions can be expected m the Senate tomorrow, but the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that political circles hold that it will not aid those supporting repeal of the arms embargo. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that the German Admiralty disclaims knowledge of the City of Flint’s reported seizure.

According to a Daventry broadcast the seizing of the ship had aroused intense feeling throughout the United States, and its repercussions were expected to be widespread. The New York “Herald-Tribune commented that even if it was established that the Germans had acted within the rules of warfare, the inci - dent was bound to have strong repercussions in the neutrality debate. The newspaper quotes Senator Burns, an ardent repealist, as saying that an explanation was bound to be demanded for such a high-handed proceeding. It is not known whether the American crew is still on board the vessel. One phase of the episode which is puzzling observers is why the Germans took the vessel to a neutral port when they knew that by so doing they must be interned. LAWFUL_VOVAGE ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT’S SECRETARY. DEMAND FOR RELEASE OF SHIP EXPECTED. (Received This Day. 9.0. a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 24. President Roosevelt’s secretary, Mr Stephen Early, has announced that the City of Flint was on “a pecfectly legal and lawful voyage.” He added that referring only to American laws did not mean that Germany had not the right to seize her, but pointed out that under the legislation at present being debated the ship could not have sailed to a belligerent port. It is gathered from this that the White House, like some senators, believes that the incident strengthens the cash and carry argument. According to the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America, the Government is expected to demand that Russia release the City of Flint. POINT TO BE SETTLED IS RUSSIA REALLY NEUTRAL? IMPORTANT QUESTIONS INVOLVED. MONTREAL, October 24. Professor Edward Corwin, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, declares that the German seizure of the American ship City of Flint will lead to clarification of Russia’s real relations with Germany, the point at issue being the taking of the vessel to the supposedly neutral port of Murmansk The United States may ask Russia for a statement as to her position regarding the warring nations If Russia maintains her neutrality, the United States may protest and ask for the vessel’s return. If Russia indicates that she is a belligerent, then vessels carrying contraband to Russia will be subjected to seizure by Britain and France. The question is, will Russia allow Germany to bring prizes of war into Russian ports? DIPLOMATIC INQUIRIES (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON. October 24. The Berlin correspondent of the As-

sociated Press of America states that the American Embassy has been instructed formally to inquire as to the whereabouts of the City of Flint and other details. The United States Ambassador at Moscow called at the Foreign Office and inquired for details of the arrival of the City of Flint. A message from Tromso states that the vessel lay off the Norwegian coast throughout October 21, after which a Norwegian torpedo boat escorted her outside the three mile limit.