AMERICA ANGRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23490, 30 October 1939, Page 10

AMERICA ANGRY

FORMAL PROTEST TO RUSSIA

THE CITY OF FLINT CASE VESSEL NOW ON WAY TO GERMANY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 29, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28 " It is announced from Berlin that the American steamer City of Flint has left the Russian port of Murmansk and is creeping through the North Sea to an unnamed German port with the prize crew from the Deutschland running the ship, although it is revealed the American crew is still on board. Officials emphasised that the British Navy was undoubtedly highly interested in the City of Flint s whereabouts, and would sink her to prevent the contraband from falling into Germany's hands. It is confidently predicted that she will reach port next week. An earlier Berlin message stated that the City of Flint was going to Hamburg. A message from Washington says the United States has formally protested to Russia at the withholding of information regarding the City of Flint and at the difficulties that were put in the way of communicating with the • American crew. The American Ambassador to Moscow, Mr. L,. A. Steinhardt, has notified the State Department that the Soviet authorities ordered the vessel to leave Murmansk under the German prize crew, contending that Russia had fulfilled her obligations as a neutral by forcing the ship to depart under the same conditions as her entry. In a long and bitter cablegram Mr. Steinhardt recited his difficulties in obtaining information. He said he was frequently refused even appointments with Soviet officials, and was unable to communicate with the American crew by telephone or telegraph. Also, permission was withheld for his assistant to fly to Murmansk.

It is reported that this has increased the intense resentment of the State Department, which pointedly referred to the Tass news agency's release of news of the vessel hours before the United States Government was informed as a breach of etiquette. The Administration is deeply resentful and irritated at the episode, and the situation is so tense that the State Department issued a statement formally charging the Soviet with withholding "adequate co-operation," implying that neither Russia nor Germany had been frank if, indeed, they had been honest. Officials are very angry at Mr. Steinhardt's failure to ascertain the facts and consider the Soviet treated him with contempt.

[ ' The confusion regarding the whereabouts of the ship further i strains the atmosphere. The Soviet Government announced that it had ordered the ship to leave Murmansk, but the Berlin authorities informed the American Charge d'Affaires that she had i not sailed, which State Department officials do not believe.