The Washington herald., 1919-03-08
GERMAN LINERS
MAY Be SEIZED.
HURLEY AYERS
Huns Refuse to Give Up
Ships Without Food
Guarantee.
CONTRACT NOT KEPT
forcible Taking Of Vessel.
Likely to Please New
Government.

Possible seizure Of the German
merchant feet, now at Hamburg
and Bremen, by the British and
American nsvies was forecast yes
terday by Edward n. Hurley. chair
man OF the Shipping Board. Mr..
Hurley was commenting on dis
patches reporting failure OF nego-
tiations by allied and German dele
cations at Spa on the ship qUes-
ton
Faces serious Situation.
Germany" he declared. has
contracted with US to deliver a Ger
tain amount or tonnage in return
for 1900 tons Of fats and Loo. .0oe
tons Of cereals. Dates Of delivery
for these ships have been agreed
upon by Germany, although we did
not set any dates when the food-
stUffs should be delivered.
Germany faces a serious internal
situation as a result OF a lack OF
food There is grave menace
there of Bolshevism sweeping the
country. The government is hav-
ing difficulty in restraining the
mObs now. What is to be feared
is that the leaders may lose heart
or control and let the mObs act.
The sailors appear TO be the guild
ing influence in German political life
It was the sailors who first raised
the red nag before the ar1nistice and
they are the controlling factor. The
government is afraid OF their power
British and American war vessels
are now at Hamburg and Bremen and
there would be no difficulty in get
ting these ships, which Germany has
contracted TO give us. There are no
German warships there, no subrna-
rines or anything else
II was said oficiaIly that possibly
the German government would wei
come seizure OF the vessels by the al
lies as a relief This, il was pointed
out would eXculpate the government
Of blame.
Germans F1stIy Refuse.
Paris, March Plat refusal Of
Germany to permit her ships to be
used for homeward transportation
of American troops unless a food
supply TO last until next harvest IS
first guaranteed by the allies ICON
front>d peace delegates OF the Eve
ereat powers wfrca they met this
Afternoon.
This determine tion on the part OF
Germany was made known by her
representative at the economic con -
ference at Spa Belgium They in
formed the allied Representatives
the German merchantmen would not
be turned over unless the necessary
food supplies were positively guar
anteed. Thereupon the allied eco
nomic mission returned from the
Spa for further instructions.
Question of Trade Ur.
1t was estimated that $500 Ooo. 900
worth OF food would be required to
feed the Germans until the next hsr-
vest This sum is double the avail
able gold and securities in Germany.
Even IL the amount available were
TO be taken IL would cause financial
collapse, 1t was pointed out
Economic experts declared the only
possible means by which Germany
might pay for the food would be for
that nation to start production OF
eXportable commodities. This brings
sQuarely before the Peace Conference
the question Of whether Germany shall
be permitted to enter world trade i'm
mediately. under certain restrictions
Some hold this to be necessary. if
Germany is TO be kept together. and
maintained in such shape that she
will be able to sign a peace treaty.
pay her debts and make reparstiou
for war damage