TANKS FOR ARABS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27906, 1 March 1956, Page 13

TANKS FOR ARABS

Attempt To Halt Delivery (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 28. The Jewish-American owner of the freighter, James Monroe, now on its way to Saudi Arabia with a controversial cargo of 18 tanks, said today he was trying to halt their delivery The owner. Mr Jacob Michael, said he had received a report that Saudi Arabia would not let the vessel dock at Jedda because it was Jewish-owned. Instead, the report said, the tanks would be transferred at Port Said, in Egypt, to another ship for the remainder of the voyage. If this was done. Mr Michael said in a statement, he had sent a radio message to the captain of the James Monroe. to return to the United States with the tanks or “dump them in the" ocean.’ The ship is under charter to the Hellenic Lines. Ltd., and today an official of the line disputed Mr Michael’s authority to issue such an order. Mr Michael said he recognised he had no control over the ship as long as it continued to the port of destination originally specified. However he maintained that under Admiralty law. he had the right to take over and give orders if the vessel was requested to sail for any other port.