Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-21
No Understanding With Great
Britain, Says President, Who
Reveals Unpublished Agree
ment Reached in Paris.
SALE is OPPOSED BY
SENATE COMMITTEE
Tentative Plan Eventually
Would Have Credited Ger
many With Any Surplus VAL
uation Above Losses.

Washington. Feb. 20.-Pres esident
Wilson fatty denied today ina for
NAL COMMUNICATION to the senate
that he had any agreement or UNI
derstahding with British officials re-
earding disposition OF the feet OF
io"mer German liners arouud which,
since they were offered for sale by
thl shipping board, has ragged con-
troversv into which congress, courts
and government agencies have been
drawn.
There is not, nor has there been,
any agreement or understanding be-
tween the president of the United
States and officials of Great Britain
concerning the sale of the ex-Ger-
man vessels III possession OF the
United States" Mr.. Wilson said,
responding specifically to a resolu-
ton by Senator Brandagee, republic
an, Connecticut, adopted by the SEN
ate. nor is there any agreement or
understanding with respect to what
disposition shall be made of these
ships by the United States.
II believe the above information
fully answers the senate inquiry"
Sends Unpublished Agreement.
At the same time. however, and
''in 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
reached ir Paris that Germany
eventually would be credited before
the reparations commission, should
congress approve, with any surplus
valuation of the ships in excess OF
merchant tonnage losses OF the
United States during the war, In
no case would title. to the ships
themselves pass from the United
States, the agreement provided.
Before Mr.. Wilson's message
reached the senate, the commerce
committee had decided to recon-
mend passage of the bill drawn by
itss chairman. Senator Jones, repuo--
lican. Washington. deferring sale OF
the shios until they shall have been
rented for commercial service by
the shipping board and congress
shall have laid down national ship
ping policy. The house merchant
marine committee had embarked on
an independent inquiry with Char
nlan John Barton Payne, and wee
Chairman Stevens of the shipping
board re;terating their divergent
views on the advisability of present
sale of the vessels, and in the dis
tr;ct suprcrtfe court, Associate JUS
flee Baileyj took under Amusement
applicatioWof counsel for the board
ti,at S5,OO0,000 bond be required OF
William Randolph Hearst, taxpay-
er. who was granted a temporary
Injunction against the boards plan
to sell the feet.
Will Continue Sale.
Sale of the former German cargo
vessels by the shipping board, VIII
continue, Chairman = Payne an
nounced, as action of the, senate
commerce committee and the tenn
porary injunction granted William
Randolph Hearst apply only to the
50 passenger ships. 49,,
Bids have been invited by the
board for purchase OF = treight
carriers aggregating lOO,s32 dead,
weight tons. Up to the present IS
ex-enemy cargo carrying ships nave
been sold by the board.
Checks totalling 81 ,4S5,ol9 de-
posted by eight bidders, earnest
money on bids for the passenger
ships were returned to them to-
day.
Conditional on Congress.
The proposed agreement, trans,
mitted by the president was signed
in MAY, 1919, by Premier Lloyd
George aud Mr.. Wilson. The presi-
dents signature, however, was made
conditional on an appended "ex-
planation" that it was subject to the
approval of congress. In transmit,
ting the document the president said
/. he had intended to send it to the
senate after ratification of the peacs
treaty. !,
The agreement covered all vessels
captured, seized or detained by any
OF the allied or associated govern