The New York herald., 1921-12-13
MORSE GETS BACK,
HURRIES TO CAPITAL
Denies He Used Disguise in
Leaving on Trip Which Was
Blocked at Havre.
READY FOR ANY CHARGE
Willing to Appear Anywhere,
He Says in Statement
Claims Millions for Ships.

Four hours after his arrival here yes
terday on the French liner Paris Charles
w. Morse, shipbuilder and financier,
took the train for Washington to face
any charges that may be made against
him in connection with war shipping
contracts.
Mr.. Morse, smiling and apparently un-
disturbed by the abrupt ending of his
trip to Europe at Havre. said he had
come back Immediately to appear before
any tribunal at which the Government
may desire his presence and denied en-
phatically he had employed any disguise
or subterfuge in leaving.
II am willing to go anywhere and do
anything that the Government requests.
lie said in his stateroom. which he had
occupied for the round trip, as the Paris
felt her way through the mist in the
upper bay "I am feeling fairly well.
no, ! have needed no more medical
treatment on this trip than l usually re-
osuire. An ocean voyage always does me
GOOD. and this one has been no excep-
ton"
LET me see what the deal is first he
said when pressed to speak of the mat
ter which caused his return. "Yes, l re-
ceived a message from Attorney General
Daugherty at Havre. but you must ask
him what it said. / also received radio
messages from my son and from others
while on the Paris. No, I cannot talk
about these things"
Morse Issues a Statement.
Mr. Morse's arrival here and departure
10 Washington was in every way that
of an ordinary traveller, save that IN
the background on the pier. at the HoteI
Buckingham and at the Pennsylvania
station. agents of the Department OF
Justice fingered. They did not approach
him. Col William Hayward. United
States District Attorney in New YORK,
had no official interest in his arrival
here.
At the pier Mr.. Morse, after confer
ence with his son, Harry F. Morse, and
his attorney, Wilton J. Lambert issued
the following statement:
"Before leaving America for the sole
purpose of remaining away long enough
to receive few weeks treatment from
my physician, l made particular IN
quiry of the Government departments
and officials concerned as to the exist
,nce of any charge of any kind against
me and was advised there was none.
II left the country openly without any
disguise or employing any subterfuge; in
fact, / conferred with the proper officials
lust before leaving concerning the ade-
quacy OF my passport, and know that
agents or employees OF the Shipping
Eoard had kept themselves posted as to
nv movements for weeks prior to my
departure and that they must have actu-
ally known when boarded the vessel
''When at sea I learned that the
Shipping Board desired my presence in
America and Immediately consented to
return. only suggesting that as they
were aware of the object of my trip, and
as their investigation had already con-
sumed two years. objection ought not
to be made to my seeing my doctor.
"I have voluntarily returned and Will
proceed directly to Washington to con-
front any charges or demands made
upon me.
Millions Due, He Says.
'I am firmly convinced that the Fleet
CORPORATION owes both the Groton Iron
Works and the Virginia Shipbuildine
Corporation millions of dollars for ships
honestly constructed and delivered to the
Government. These companies have en-
deavored to have the amounts due fixed
either by arbitration or action of the
civil courts, but II the Shipping Beard
prefers to have a preliminary issue de-
cided in some criminal tribunal l am
here by the first boat to protect, so far
as II is possible for me so to do. the
rights of creditors and the 1900 stock
holders whose material and money have
passed into the vessels which the United