SHIPS DETAINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23471, 7 October 1939, Page 12

SHIPS DETAINED

ACTION BY SOVIET 12 BRITISH VESSELS SWEDISH NAVAL PATROL l?y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 6, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. <5 British circles have not denied reports that 12 British and five Swedish steamers, loaded with timber and fertilisers, have been detained by the Soviet, ostensibly following a German request. The Manchester Guardian's Moscow correspondent says the ships arc held tip at Murmansk and Archangel because Britain is detaining Russian cargoes and steamers. The British, however, are optimistic concerning their early release, possibly through an arrangement cancelling the British- detention of vessels loaded with lathes, cocoa beans and rubber consigned to the Soviet, which has caused a great outcry in the Soviet press. While it is unlikely that the rubber can be shipped since it is among war emergency commodities, it is considered that Britain is not. trying to cut off Soviet trade, and is apparently willing to ship many much needed classes of goods which Germany is unable to supply. Whatever truth there is in the persistent reports that Russia is seeking Scandinavian tonnage to ship timber to England, such offers would be viewed with suspicion, says a Stockholm message. It is pointed out that the cargoes would be paid for before leaving Russia, and after that the Soviet would no longer bo interested in their fate. The Swedish West Coast I' leet has begun to patrol Swedish waters. Captured Danish ships are shortly to be released from Germany without cargoes. Germany is paying for the seized goods in them.