AMERICAN SHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1940, Page 6

AMERICAN SHIP

TAKEN INTO KIRKWALL FOR EXAMINATION STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS BRITAIN. LIABILITY FOR LOSSES OR INQUIRIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 12.40 p.m). WASHINGTON. January 5. The State Department has released the text of a long note warning Britain that she will be held responsible for damages in the event of “losses or injuries if American ships are forced into British control ports. At the same time it is disclosed that the Moormacsun, _en route for Bergen, has. been taken to Kirkwall. The Department said that since it was a violation of American neutrality for an American vessel to enter a combat area, it was obtaining a full statement regarding the circumstances surrounding the Moormacsun case, preliminary to possible action. Officials indicated that “losses or injuries” included damage through delay incurred in diverting American ships. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) in a Press conference, explained that the American position was that if an American ship received injuries from any agency while being forcibly taken into a port within a combat area, the belligerent forcing the ship along would be held responsible for any damage. The reference to “any agency” was taken as an indication that in the event of torpedoing by a German submarine while a ship was under British escort. Britain would be held responsible for compensation.”