Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-24
The Impcrator Is Returned,

CONTROVERSY over the award Of the
~ German liner Imperator to Great Brit
ain, which threatens to reopen the whole
question OF the disposition of the enemy ton
mage interned in American ports when war
was declared. und which was seized by the
American government Immediately there
after. has taken.a turn in favor Of the Brit
ish, vino now are in undisputed possession
of the giant German liner. one OF the two
greatest ships afoat. Seven other German
liners which were aliocated to the United
States for the return of it's troops from
France still lie in American harbors, and it
is likely that they. too, will soon fnd their
way into the hands Of the British Officials
or Great Britain have been broadly intmat-
ing that the differences which have arisen
over the fate Of the Imperator present
timely opportunity for reopening and dis
cussing the whole question Of the disposition
cf seized German tonnage.
1t may be assumed that the United States
VIII decline to reconsider the decision under
which the plenary council at Paris confirmed
the right OF this government to hold in per-
petuity all nterned shipping which It has
taken over. The ships in question are
under the American flag; they are manned
by American crews and are plying in the
American trade. They are as much hmeri-
can property as the ships built in this coun-
try or those purchased from Japan. Ger
many relinquished its claim to these ships
in the peace treaty and the United States
government will indemnity Americans who
hold just claims against Germany from the
sale of these ships and other German prop
crty held by this government. British pro-
tests against this program should not pre-
vail and the chances are that they will not
A new phase enters into the controversy, OF
course, with the defeat OF the peace treaty
by the United States Senate, and should that
defeat be permanent it might have to be re-
a.
That phase, however. will hardly be per-
mtted to have bearing on the discussion
until the status of the treaty has been set
tied rrevocably.
The transfer Of the Imperator presented
quite another question. This ship was given
to the British, but afterwards was leased to
the United States for troop transport It
would have been redelivered to the British
when it's transport duty ended had tho Lon
don authorities not objected to the return
TO the United States OF twelve tankers held
by Germany, but actually owned by Stan
dard Oil Company subsidiary. The British
take the position that these tankers are in
reality German property and as such subject
TO distribution by the peace conference. With
this view the United States Shipping Board
disagrees and insists that they must be re-
turned But the Shipping Board has yielded
sufficiently to the British demand to return
the Imperator, while holding the other seven
vessels. tr
The truth about the matter. is that the
British are profoundly apprchensive over the
growth and power of the American merchant
marine. They have given repeated indica-
lions OF this. They look with alarm upon
the ambition OF the United States to become
II great sea carrier and they are seeking
means of arres ting the expansion Of the
merchant fleet OF this country. But this
fleet will continue to GROW in spite Of Brit
Sh anxiety. The people of this country will
never consent again 10 policy which leaves
it's foreign commerce wholly at the mercy OF
foreign ships They have invested heavily
in American ships and will continue TO do
so. Great Britain might as we'll reconcile
itself to the fact that it has powerful mari
time rival in the United States