Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-21
President Wilson Denies
and Admits Agreement
With Great Britain.
POOLING AGREEMENT
FAVORED BRITONS
All Interned Ships TO Be Turned
Over to Allied Pool After United
States Has Been Compensated For
Tonna aas losses-Pool 70 Be Ap-
piled to Preparations Fund--senate
Given Final Say.

washington, Feb. 21.-President
Wilson's statement to the senate dis
closing that he had entered into
tentative agreement at Paris where
by the nations merchant tonnage
loss during the war would be pooled
and the appraised value Of seized
German ships gave,a new angle today
TO the discussion In congress OF the
ship controversy.
Nxistsnos Of the agreement was
disclosed by the president In COM
munication fatty denying that he
had entered into any agreement with
the British concerning the disposition
OF the seized ships.
The president stated the agreement
was conditional upon agreement OF
congress-, and that in no case woulo
title OF the ships pass from the
United States. It simply provided ne
explained, that all nations who came
into possession Of ships should. after
indemnifying themselves against ton
mage loss during the war put into
common pool the tonnage. PROVIDED
the ships SO held exceeded the losses.
This pool was to be applied to the
reparation funo created Wy '''e
treaty.
Clause Held Objectionable.
Attached to the presidents letter,
however, is the text Of an agreement
between him ana IAoyu-Heose -
tanning 70 msrcnant snlpp,ns. T.
This aSrcmsns was mace IN ram ~
May, 1919. ana bears tue sisnaluio
Of the president ana BRUSH preHiiei'
Tho fourth clause OF TINS
ment reveals something, no
which congress, pledged " III a
vance by the presioen1 may
disfiActly ob1ectionaple.
1t begins with the statement tna.
the ships seized py the uniteu eta
will exceed the total amour. OF SNIP
ping it lost at the HANDS OF the en-
: envy, and therefore provision is inaoe
that the ships be appraised ana ina.
whatever value Is arrived at over anu
above tho value Of our war losses IN
ships be turned ov7r to the repara-
tion commission.
This body will place 1t TO the cfedit
Of Germany toward the sums oue
from her for reparation In respect 10
way losses Of merchant ships.
Payment in U. s. Dollars.
In this fashion Great Britain, which
made strenuous efforts to wheedie
the bulk Of the fleet Of former Ger
man passenger ships from the U7ited
States, has paved the way at any
rate to obtain their equivalent IN
cash, and the cash will be American
dollars as compared with the depre-
ciated pound.
John Barton Payne. chairman OF
the United States shipping board,
said today that Great Britain. at tho
peace conference. states that she had
lost n per cent OF her merchant ton
mage in the war, and for this reason
she thought the United States should
turn over to her n per cent Of the
former German passenger and freight
liners seized In our ports at the be-
ginning Of the war.
Mr.. Payne said the president would
not agree to this proceeding. but tho
agreement w1aioh he made public to-
day showed what was finally &C
complished In the matter.
Clause 4 ANot Binding"
That the President in signing the
agreement with Lloyd George felt
that congress In tho last analysis
knt -