AMERICAN ANXIETY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 7

AMERICAN ANXIETY

THE CITY OF FLINT SHIP MAY BE SCUTTLED NO NEWS OF WHEREABOUTS [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Oct. 30, 8.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 29. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that anxiety over the City of Flint’s crew is growing in official quarters, which are still unable to learn their whereabouts from Moscow and Berlin. If the City of Flint is attempting to run the blockade it is bei! avert that th Americans will be endangered. ‘1 is feared that the Germans /' ; scuttle the ship in order to [»<•- vent her capture. Further protests to Russia and Germany are likely. Official quarters are disinclined to accept what they regard as Sovietinspired propaganda about a United States diplomatic victory. They reemphasise that the Soviet broke the internal ionaj law. GRAIN FOR BELGIUM CONTRABAND PROCEDURE PLAIN STATEMENT OI BRITISH POLICY. I British Official Wireless 1 Received Oct. 30. 7.25 p.m. RUGBY O(t. 29. In view of reports from Belgium, and in order to relieve any anxiety over detention by the British Contraband Control of certain cargoes of foodstuffs for neutral countries, the Ministry of Economic Warfare, makes clear what is the procedure regarding grain consigned to Belgian ports from overseas. Ships carrying nothing but cereals covered by the Belgian Government guarantee against re-exports, which is based on that Government's prohibition of cereal exports, are not detained by the Contraband Control. For instance, two vessels, the Richard de Larrinaza and the Pennland, were released on October 17 and .18, respectively, within a few hours of their arrival at the Contraband Control base. Information has also been received that three more ships containing bulkgrain cargoes arc on their way to Antwerp. They have not yet arrived

at. the control base, but when they do there is no reason to suppose they will be detained. Only ships carrying grain to Antwerp are detained at the British Control base.: be: ruse they are also carrying either other cargoes such as lead and linseed which may prove to be contraband destined for the enemy, or else cereals consigned to countries other than Belgium. The immediate release of a ship is not always possible in these cases, as it is necessary first to make sure that the commodities accompanying the cereals covered by the Belgian guarantees are not destined to reach the enemv.