The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-28
Great Britain
Is to Get German
Passenger Ships


promises that the United States. not
outstanding It's rejection by the
sAnAta, must be bound by the pro-
visions Of the peace treaty. the presi-
dent and the state department aEreed
70 reltnquiah to Great Britain tho
seven former German passenger
ships now in New York hArbor. rhie
was the axplAnAtion given uno0dctsl1
1t, the state department today. -
vas Eaid that the intnr-1ified 6fbu-
nal created by the Spa agreement had
naAt ana made an apporttonmAnt OF
marine spcils. awarding the ships
with great many others 70 England
ThA United, Statas. because this
country has not ratified the psaca
treaty.. was allowed no representa-
ton .on. the tribunal.
The original understanding reach
ed at the time the ships were taken
from : the Germans was that Eng
land and the United States should
have use Of the vessels for the pur-
pose of repatriating their armies and
that the craft should be then turn
ed over to the tribunal for nna1 ad-
publication
There was a subsequent a8rce-
ment between England and tho
United States that this country would
give over control of the seven great
passenger ships. in return for which
the British = would return tho
Standard Oil tankers seiEed by them
In German waters,
An international prize court had
previously determined that the
American corporation had a clear
title to these latter vessels. The
shipping board decided that the
seven passenger steamers should be
held in New York until the ta.nkers
were returned.
Last week however. Great Britain
demanded of the state department
the return of the passenger ships
and at the Same time asserted she
had discovered her right to retain
tho tankers.
whether the same inter allied. tn
bunal., overriding the prize court
Also apportioned the tankers to
Great Britain as recompenae
Tor her loages during the War
was not stated.
But neither the claim OF England
to the German passenger ships nor
the supposed award by the inter-
allied commission OF thu Standard
Oil tankers is justified under inter-
NaIlOndi law, HI ttIG oPtu1Qu VI &Q~
thorities. here. The shipping board
itself. manifests doubtful attitude
on the question and Chairman
Payne has made 1t evident several
times that throughout his admins
tration the Shoard has merely carried
out unquestioningly the directions
of the president.
! The peace treaty. into which the
Spa agreement wax incorporated.
was signed by the representatives of
the United States subject to .ratifI-
cation or reputation by this country
acting through the senate.
Officials who took issue with the
state departments announcement,
today pointed out that the country
had definitely repudiated the treaty
States is no longer bound to obey
any Of its conditions. The submits
sion Of the former German mer-
chant marine to the inter-allied tri-
bnnal was repudiated as much as
any other provision of the treaty.
and the whole question Is now ono
between the United States and Ger
many. they believed.
However, the White House and the
state department have steadfastly re-
fused to admit that this country has
refused to ratify the peace treaty and
all of the recent dealings between
this government and foreign govern
ments have been on the assumption
that this country lis an integral part
OF the league OF nations !
It was on this assumption that the
International labor conference was
held in Washington.
!. Consequently, the president obey
od without. dAnaur tho order az the