The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-25
FRENCHASk To
BUILD SHIPS
IN NU.S.PLANTS
Say Their Facilities for the
Building of Ships Are
Practically Mill.
WANT TO USE BIG
WAR PLANTS IN us.
Hurley Disposed to Withhold
u. S. Facilities Until Peace
Treaty Is Signed.

Paris, Dec. 24.--Herbert G. Hoover,
American food administrator and Ed
| ward N. Hurley, chairman of the
American shipping board, called on
| President Wilson by appointment late
| today. Mr.. Hoover's visit was in con-
nection with the great problem of
provisioning sections of Europe where
great food shortage exists or is threat
! ened as the result of the over-running
of the country by German troops or
by exhaustion owing to the inability
/ of the inhabitants to find labor to till
| the soil.
Suggestions that relief work in
these sections be placed in the hands
of international committee have
come from some entente countries,
but it now seems assured that the
original plans of the administration in
this matter will be adhered to. It
is probable that the work of supply
ing food will be retained under one
head in the interest of rapidity Of
action and efficiency. This head, It
seems certain. will be Mr. Hoover.
who has prepared tentative plans for
the extension of the machinery he
has already created for the relief OF
devastated portions of Belgium and
France.
Mr.. Hurley talked with Mr.. Will
son on shipping subjects. One
feature of, the problem under con-
sideration is the application Of the
French government for permission
to rehabiIitate its merchant ma s
rine through the use OF great
American shipbuiIdina plants,
which were developed TO meet
war needs. The French govern
nnent through Captain Andre Tar
dieu, when he was French high
commissioner TO tho United
States, already has reminded Mr..
Wilson that France was compelled |
in the common interest of tho en-
tente to completely suspend the
construction of merchant ships.
Could Not Build Ships.
M. Tardieu at that time told the ,
President that France could not even
undertake to replace ships destroyed /
by German and Austrian submarines
if she turned her great shipbuilding |
plants into munition factories to sup |
ply the entente armies with artillery |
and ammunition. lie explained that |
the end of the war, therefore, would /
find France almost without ships and
dependent upon foreign bottoms if her
appeal for aid was unheeded.
Due consideration is being given
this claim, but it is understood the
to withhold American ship
building facilities from all foreign
customers until the final peace treaty
is signed. Mr.. Hurley intended to re-
turn Immediately to America, but has
changed his plans and because there
Is a probability that these subjects
will soon become matter of negotia-
ton, has decided to remain in France
1t is understood that French build
ng program calls for six million tons
within the next three years. The
French government already has placed
orders for 5000 tons in British yards
md had hoped to place 100000 tons
n American yards. The aggregate
lfter three years would be about three
lines the merchant tonnage of France
previous to the war. The increase is
aid to be due largely to changes by
which the Mediterranean ports will
,ecome the centers of the commercial
of Europe instead of the
North sea ports.