The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-24
SHORT ANSWER
FOR BRANDEGEE
Sale of Former German Cargo
Carriers Will Continue, Declares
Shipping Chief.


Washington, Feb. 20.-President
Wilson fatty denied today in a COM
nunication to the Senate that he had
any agreement or understanding with
British officials regarding disposition
nj the fleet of former German liners
around which since they were offered
tor sale by the shipping board, has
ragged a controversy into which Con-
sgress, courts and government agen-
'cies have been drawn.
There is not, nor has there been
any agreement or understanding be-
sween the President Of the United
States and officials of Great Britain
concerning the sale of the ex-German
vessels in possession of the United
States" Mr.. Wilson said, responding
specifically to a resolution by Sem
ator Brandegee, Republican, Connec-
sicut, adopted by the senate, "nor is
there any agreement or understand
ing with respect to what disposition
shall be made of those ships by the
United States.
Il believe the above information
fully answers the Senate inquiry
At the same time, however, and
lin order that the Senate may be in
possession of all the information
there is in any way relating to the
vessels in question" the President
transmitted copy of hitherto un-
published tentative agreement reach
ed in Paris that Germany eventually
would be credited before the repara-
lions commission, should Congress ap-
prove, with any surplus valuation of
the ships in excess of merchant ton
mage losses of the United States dur
ing the war. In no case would title
20 the ships themselves pass from the
United States, the agreement pro-
-vided.
Before Mr.. Wilson's message
reached the Senate the commerce
committee had decided to recon-
mend passage Of the bill drawn by its
chairman, Senator Jones, Republican,
Washington, deferring sale of the
ships until they shall have been re-
fitted for commercial service by the
shipping board and Congress shall
have laid down national shipping
policy. The House merchant marine
committee had embarked on an inde-
pendent inquiry with Chairman John,
Barton Payne, of the shipping board,
saad Vice Chairman Stevens, reiterat-
:ng their divergent views On the ad-
visibility of present sale of the YES
sells, and in the district supreme court !;
Associate Justice Bailey took under
.advisement application of counsel for
:she board that s5,Ooo,o0o bond be re-
rauired of William Randolph Hearst in
taxpayer proceedings through which
ne was granted temporary injunc- ;
ttion against the boards plan to sell !
che fleet
Subject to Approval.
The proposed agreement transmit
1ed by the President was signed in
May, 1919, by Premier LloydGeorge
and Mr.. Wilson. The Presidents sig
nature. however, was made condition
al on an appended ''explanation" that
1t was subject to the APPROVAL of Con-
sress.
Sale of former German cargo YES
sells by the shipping board will con-
tinue, Chairman Payne declared to-
night, as action of the Senate COM
merce committee and the temporary
granted William Randolph
Hearst apply only to the thirty pas
senger ships.
Bids have been invited by the board ,
for the purchase of twenty-five
freight carriers aggregating 100,532 )
aeadweight tons. Up to the present
twenty-three ex-enemy cargo carriers
have been sold by the board.