DANISH VESSELS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 228, 9 July 1941, Page 3

DANISH VESSELS.

TAKEN OVER BY UNITED STATES. BRITAIN] WAIVES HER. RIGHTS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, July 7. A message from Washington says the United States Maritime Commission has taken over seven more Danish freighters under the requisition law. They will be immediately assigned to trade with Pacific ports, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. As a result of conversations between British and United States authorities in Washington on the question of enemy ships now sheltering in United States ports, the British Embassy there has been authorised to issue the following statement. “The British Government announces in connection with the recent agreement . for the employment of Danish ships in United States ports that it has consented in respect, of these ships to waive its rights as a belligerent to refuse to recognise the transfer of enemy merchant ships to a neutral flag unless it has first satisfied itself as to the validiv of he ransfer. >

“The principal reason hitherto for the immobilisation of these ships has been the fact that the British Government felt unable to Avaivc these rights, to the maintenance of which it attaches the greatest importance. It is] however, satisfied that the use. to Avhich these ships are to be put wilt contribute flireetly or indirectly to the war effort of the democracies.”