Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-21
White House Declares
Paris Set Tentative
Plan for y. S. to Pay
Excess Over War Loss.
President Hopes unds
Will Be forthcoming
toPay Excess to Credit
of Foe Reparation.

Washington, Feb. oO.-The German
ship situation in congress today brought
from the senate commerce committee
approval Of the bill to prohibit the sale
Of the seized liners for which S2S. 900
600 has been bid and which. it has been
charged, are to be slipped to British in
terests through sale to the international
Mercantile Marine.
From the White House it brought de-
nal by the president-in response 10
Senator Brandagce's rcsolution-that lie
had entered into any agreement or IN
derstanding with amy officials Of Great
Britain concerning the sale Of the for
mer German liners. OF that he had en-
tered into any agreement Or understand
ing with respect TO what disposal should
be made Of them.
President Had Backed Sale
Two actions by the president upon
the disposition Of the ships were, how
ever. brought out. one by himself and
the other by Chairman John r. Payne.
Of the shipping board. The president
admitted that he had entered into an
understanding at the peace conference
by which the allied nations We're To re-
tain the foe ships confiscated by each,
and where such seized tonnage was in
excess of the holders merchant tonnage
less GUT1Ug lilt WaI, Il IpuSOIdDIt FhtdS
was to be placed on such excess and be
paid tn the reparations commission. fnr
the credit of Germany towards the sums
due from that nation. Such excess mus
bn paid by the United States RraZl.
China and Siam.
Chairman parne's contribution was
statement to the house merchant marinn
committee, that the proposed sale .
the liners had had the formal sanction
nff fIa r,rnc;dont Ia gaiI bn Ne Et
had written across the resolution of titv
board to sell, the words: Action of
board approved.
In his reply 10 the senate thu pres
dent transmitted copy of the '.nronos i
agreement" between the allied and
snciated governments at Paris ttn+r
which each is TO retain rs its aWn '.al1e
complete title to and use Of aIl shit
captured. seized ar detained during thc
war as q war measure" and 70 ''owu
the same free from any claim of ant
of the allied or associated governments.
Not TO Claim Others Seizure.
This agreement further provides that
in case the ships 50 retained by any al
lied or associated government are in
excess If the claims Of such government
for war losses in merchant ships. such
government shall not make 4 claim fnr
share Of other ships ceded under the
treaty OF peace. SnipS 50 ceded VIII be
distributed among the other govern
ments on the basis Of ton for ton and
class for class Of the ships lost and not
replaced br the enemy vessels seized or
captured by them during the war,
Agreement Grew Out of Clash
The proposed agreement transmitted 7
by the president was signed in May .
1919. BY Premier Lloyd George and MIR 4
Wilson. The presidents signature, how |
ever. was made conditional on an ap-
pended "explanation. that il was subject \
to the approval of congress. III trans
mitting the document the president said |
he had intended to send il to the senate
after ratification Of the peace treaty.
The agreement covered all vessels |
captured. seized or detained by any ~ /
the allied Or associated governments
Officials recalled that il was drawn |
np after a controversy between Premier /
Lloyd and Mr.. Wilson. III which the
British proposal that all captured, seiz- !
cd or coded enemy ships be- pooled and .
re allotted on the basis Of tonnage
losses. was opposed by the president. the |
resulting tentative understanding being /.
made public today for the first time. \
Continued Page Three,.