PLOT FRUSTRATED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 303, 30 September 1940, Page 6

PLOT FRUSTRATED.

ATTEMPT to delay ships. LONDON, September 28. Prompt action by the Ministry of Shipping resulted in the frustration of a Nazi plot to delay sailings from New York of foreign shipping in the Allied service. ‘ The National Union Seamen had good reason to believe that the Nazi Government, working through its Con-suls-General in America, was actively encouraging Communist committees of seamen to stir up trouble among the crews of such ships. The British Ambassador to the United States (Lord Lothian) was instructed to place all the available evidence before the American Government and missions were sent from Britain to deal directly with the situation. It is understood that men who had been engaged for round trips from Britain were being encouraged to leave their ships at New York and, through a loophole in the American maritime law, the ships were then prevented from sailing until certain sums had been paid into Court. , The situation besame so serious that instant Government action was necessary. This has been taken, ensuring the prompt • sailing of all ships.