ORDER TO SAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 11

ORDER TO SAIL

VESSEL RUSSIAN DECISION DESTINATION IN DOUBT UNITED STATES DEMAND (Received October 27. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27 The Moscow radio i announced to-day that the Murmansk authorities, after scrutiny of the cargo, had ordered the American steamer City of Flint to depart as soon as possible. The British Broadcasting Corporation say's the Russian Government last night ordered . the immediate release of the freighter. It was not known this morning if the vessel had sailed, nor whether she would fly the German or American flag. A Berlin message states that the City of Flint is to be escorted to a German port. An earlier message said that Germany had sent a memorandum to the United States Government stating that the crow of the City of Flint was safe. Official quarters in Berlin expected the Russians to hand over the vessel to Germany as soon as she was seaworthy. International Law Quoted It was officially stated in Berlin that the ca-pture and boarding of the vessel were legal because there was contraband aboard. International law justified taking the vessel to Murmansk, and complaints could only b6 heard by a Prize Court. A message from Washington says the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, announced that the United States had demanded that the Soviet return the City of Flint and her cargo to her American' crew. Mr. Hull explained that the United States demand was presented' through the American Ambassador to .Russia, Mr. Laurence A. Steinhardt. The demand was based on the United States conception of the items of international law involved. Envoy Sent to Learn Facts These items were the Supreme Court's decision in the Appam case, in which a 'vessel sent to an American port by the German raider Moewo in 1916 was ordered to "be released, and Article 21, 1907, of the Hague Convention, under which a prize ship could be taken to a neutral port only in the event of exceptional circumstances, like a breakdown, after which it must be released when repaired. There was no definite information that the City of Flint entered Murmansk for repairs, Mr. Hull said. Ihe American representative at Moscow was sending a representative to Murmansk to determine the facts. He intimated that representations were also being made to Berlin for the release of the vessel, and reiterated his conviction that the cargo was under 50 per cent contraband, thus negating the right under international law to confiscate it.

SPIES IN FRANCE TWO DEATH SENTENCES OTHERS SENT TO GAOL (Received October 27. 5.5 p.m.) PARIS. Oct. '26 A notorious pro-Nazi autonomist. Dr. rhillipo Ross, who was a member of the Municipal Council at Strassbourgh, lias been sentenced to death for betraving military secrets to Germany. A student, aged 20, has received a similar sentenco. Three other members of the spy ring have been sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. THE GNEISENAU _ INSPECTION OFFER MADE BERLIN. Oct. •_'!! The German naval authorities have offered to allow neutrals to inspect the battleship Gneisenau, which a Norwegian newspaper alleged had been sunk in the British air raid on Wilhelmshaven.