Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-02-26
PRESIDENT DENIES
DEAL WITH BRITISH
Wilson Sends Message on Sale of
German Ships.
SENATE is GIVEN ALL DATA
Had No Agreement to Sell Seized
Liners-Transmits Copy of Pro.
posed Pact Recurring Ap-
provaI of Congress.

Washington, Feb. p. - President
wilson in reply to Senator Brande-
ge's 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 en-
tered into any agreement or under
standing with respect to what dispo-
S1tlon should be made of them by the
Uuited States.
AT the same time he transmitted to
the senate copy Of a proposed
agreement" between the allied and as
sociated governments at Paris, under
which each is to retain as it's own
the complete title to and use Of all
ships captured, seized or detained
during the war as war measure"
Plan of Distribution.
This agreement further provides
that in case the 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 a claim for a share of other
ships ceded under the treaty of peace.
Ships SO ceded will be distributed
among the other governments on the
basis of ton for ton 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 ton
mage lost the commission shall deter
mine reasonable value of the excess
and that these countries shall pay
such sums to the commission for the
credit of Germany in making repara-
ton for war losses of merchant
ships.
The president said that while he
felt confident that congress would
make the disposal of the funds to
which he had agreed he had no au.
thority to bind it to that act, "but
must depend upon it's taking the same
view in the matter that is taken by
the joint signatories of this agree.
ment."
Text of Message.
The presidents message to the sen.
ate follows:
Il have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of a resolution passed by
the senate on February IA requesting
the president to inform that body
whether any, and if so, what agree.
ment or understanding exists between
him and officials Of Great Britain con.
cerning the disposition by the United
States of America of the German
ships which the shipping board is pro.
posing to sell, or which were acquired
by the United States after the termin.
alton Of hostilities between said
United States and the central Euro.
pean Teutonic powers
'The ships for the purchase OF
which bids have been asked by the
shipping board, were taken over by
executive orders issued pursuant to
the joint resolution of congress OF
May II, 1917, authorizing the presi-
dent to take over for the United
States the possession and title of any
vessel under it's jurisdiction, under
enemy ownership, or under the regis
try of an enemy country. The gov
ernment of the United States is not
in possession of any ex-German YES
sells except those taken over under
this resolution.
Under an armistice agreement be-
tween the German government and
the allied and associated powers GER
tain German vessels were taken over
primarily for the transport of food to
Europe, including Germany, and for
the transportation of troops. Of the
tonnage so taken over, certain pas
senger vessels were allocated to the
United States temporarily for the pur-
pose of repatriating American SOL
diers. When the transportation of
our troops was completed, these YES
sells were all surrendered in accord
ance with the agreement under which
they were temporarily allocated to
this government for such use.
"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-German
vessels in the possession Of the United
States. nor is there any agreement or
understanding with respect to what
disposition shall be made of those
shins by the United States"