U.S.A. SHIPS

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1939, Page 7

U.S.A. SHIPS

REGISTRY CHANGE For Trade With Allies [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] WASHINGTON, November 6. The Maritime Commission has authorised the United States Line to transfer eight ships to the Pan-American registry, enabling the continuance of trade with Britain and France. The title is being transferred to the Panama Corporation. The crews will be non-American. (Received November 7, 8.30 p.m.) • NEW YORK, November 6. . Regarding the decision of the U.S. Maritime Commission, Senator Connally, in a broadcast announcement, referred to the Commission’s action in authorising the United States Line to transfer ships to the registry of the Panama Corporation. The operator of the United States Line asked permission to operate at least rfne 7500 ton freighters of the American Banker type under the Panama flag, manned by non-Ameri-can crews. The transfer of eight vessels, already authorised, will enable a continuance of trade with Britain and France. The title is being transferred to the Panama Corporation. The crews will be nonAmerican. Senator Connally said that 130 American ships of 860,000 tons, representing 47 per cent of the Ameri- . can ships and 44 per cent of the American tonnage, would be withdrawn as the result of the new Neutrality Act. Labour circles are indignant ‘because the crews must be aliens in the vessels transferred to the Panama Corporation. Shipping circles believe the crews will be mostly Canadians. The National Foreign Trade Council has established a committee' to study the chartering of foreign ships and their transfer to American registry. ■ • ' TRANSFER DELAYED. (Received November 7, 11.55 p.m.) ... WASHINGTON, November 7.. The Maritime Commission.has now announced that it is formally delaying its action on the United States Line’s application for transfer of eight vessels to the Panama 'Corporation, until it makes a thprougH study of the position. This minifies the earlier statement. Any favourable action which might be taken, it is stated, would only be on a definite understanding that the operations of the transferred vessels would in. no way involve United States diploy matic protection for them, or be made the basis of any claim on the United States Government. U.S.A. OFFICIALS. TO TRAVEL ON BELLIGERENT SHIPS. WASHINGTON, November 6. The State Department has issued neutrality regulations, permitting diplomatic and military officials to travel in belligerent ships of other nations. They will be permitted to travel in belligerent ships only in Atlantic coastal waters, the Caribbean, and outside the specified danger area. ’Plane travel is not restricted.

Matson Liner Delayed CREW DEMAND HIGHER WARTIME PAY. (Received November 7, 7.50 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 6. The sailing of the Matson liner Monterey for New Zealand and Australia, with 700 Britishers aboard, has been postponed because two the the unions of employees on the vessel are making demands for additional war bonus and wages. ESPIONAGE ACT. WASHINGTON, November 6. The Government is applying the War-time Espionage Act to civilian aeronautical industry. ' The War and Navy Departments are waiving the regulations forbidding the sale of new models until 18 months after their development. GERMAN COMPLAINT. AT U.S.A. ATTITUDE. LONDON, November 6. Berlin reports state that the entire Press, taking its cue from the “Dlplomatische Kornespondenz,”. Tojjdly condemns the new United States Neutrality Bill. It utters sinister waniings, declares that the Bill fans .the flames anew, and exclusively assists the democracies. ?; .. . 1 NAZI PROPAGANDA. ' NEWARK, November 6. It is reliably reported that at least 8000 copies of a German handbill, .accusing the Poles of using British poison gas, were distributed in New Jersey. The envelopes were postmarked Berlin. ~ . U.S.—VENEZUELAN TRADE PACT. WASHINGTON, November 6The United States has signed a trade pact with Venezuela. Sixty per cent, of the United States foreign trade is now regulated by reciprocal agreements with 22 countries.