The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-02-21
OUTLINESDIvISION
OF GERMAN SHIPS
The Allies TO Keep All Vessels
Seized Or Captured,
no AGREEMENT TO SELL THEM
President Wilson Denies Any Compact
With England 10 Dispose of Ships
Held Here.

Washington, Feb. 21-Prcsident
Wilson, in reply to Senator Brande-
gees resolution, informed The senate
that he had not entered into any
agreement or understanding with Off
Gals of Great Britain concerning the
sale Of former German liners seized
in American ports nor had he entered
into any agreement or understanding
with respect to what disposition should
be made OF them by the United States.
At The same time lie transmitted to
the senate 4 copy of 4 proposed
agreement" between the allied and as
ISOLATED governments at Paris under
which each is to retain as its own
"the complete title to and use all
ships captured, seized or detained dur
ing the war as war measure and to
Gown The same free from any claim
of any of the allied or associated gov
ernmeutS."
This agreement further provides
that in case +hC ships so retained by
any allied or associated government
are in excess of the claims of such
governments for war losses in mer-
chant ships such government shall not
make Il claim for 4 share of other
ships coded under the treaty of peace.
Ships SO coded win be distributed
among other governments on the basis
Of ton for ion and class for class OF
the ships lost and not replaced by the
| enemy vessels seized or captured by
them during the war.
It also provides that since the ships
to be retained by the United States,
Brazil, China, Cuba and Siam would
| exceed their claims for merchant on
mage lost the commission shall deter
mine a reasonable value of the eX.
! cess and that those countries Shall
pay such sums to the commission for
| the credit of Germany in making re-
paratfon for war losses or merchant
! ships.
The president said that while he
felt confident that congress would
make the disposal Of the funds tC
! which he had agreed, he had no au,
thority to bind it to that act, "bui
must depend upon its taking the same
/ view of the matter that is taken lGy
! the joint signatories Of this agree
, ment."
! The senate commerce committee or
,dered favorably reported Chairman
Jones' bill prohibiting the sale of the
thirty former German passenger liners
except as may hereafter he provided
by congress.
No record. vote was taken on the
bill, as the committee had already
adopted a motion. 10 to 8, proposing
that the sale be prohibited. Senators
Edge, of New Jersey; Fernald, OF
Maine, and Nelson, of Minnesota, al
Republicans, voted in the negative.
Those supporting the motion were
Chairman Jones and Senators Ball
Colt, Lenroot. AIcNary, Republicans
and Chamberlain, Fletcher, Kirby
| RansdeI and sheppard, Democrats.
The house merchant marine com
mittee took Il hand in the controvers!
when Chairman Payne, of the shipping
board, appeared to repeat testimony
already given on the same subject be
fore the senate committee.
While the committee hearing was il
progress counsel for the shipping
board appeared before Associate Jus
tice Bailey in the district supreme
court to urge that William Randolph
Hearst, of New York, on whose tax
payer petition Il temporary injunction
against the sale has been issued
should be placed under $5,000,000 bono
to cover possible losses to the govern
ment due TO the tying up Of the Graf
by legal proceedings.