The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-07
c, v. MORSE
HAS OFFICIALS
WORRIED
High Financier Who
Pardoned by Presi-
dent Taft w hill e
Serving Term F'lees
To France

Washington, Dec. Aroused py
the departure Of Charles w. Morse
New York shipbuilder, from the
country Just as the government is
about to place before a fedefal
grand jury its Investigations OF ms
fransa actions with the shipping
board. officials OF various depart
ments are considering tonight what
! means may be taken to bring him
back to the United States.
It is hoped, department OF JUS
tice officials said, that wcTd can be
sent to the French government IN
time to permit Morse's detention
at Havre tomorrow morning when'
according to latest aovlces, the
French steamship Paris on which
he sailed from, New York is due
to doca.
! Early in the day the justice de-
partment called on the navy depart
ment to send destroyer to meet
the vessel outside Of IIavre and
take Morse off the ship. No such
order was issued by the navy de-
.partment, however, and officials
declared later they were without
authority to act in that manner.
Tonight a plan to cancel the
passport issued to Mr.. Morse was
under consideration. The effect OF
such action, it is understood, prob
ably would be that the French
government might. under represen-
tations from the United States. re-
fuse to permit him to land. His
return to the United States on the
Paris probably would result.
Meanwhile Erwin q. and Harry
F. Morse, sons of Charles w.
Morse, through their attorney, VIII
ton J. Lambert, issued statement
here tonight, declaring that their
father had sailed on the Paris un-
der a passport issued to him in his
own name and without knowledge
of the governments intended ac-
ton before the grand jury. 1t was
their belief, the statement said,
that the government knew Morse
had sailed before this contenplat-
ed action became known.
Morse sailed under advice Of his
physician that he would have to
undergo an operation if he desired
to save his life" the statement said.
adding that ne would return when
ever his presence was desired Aand
when he is in physical condition to
do so"
Justice department officials de-
clared that nothing was known OF
Morse's departure until it was re-
ported from New York last night.
Morse was granted passport sew
eral months ago, state department
officials said, and this passport
presumably was good at the time
Of his sailing. No passport is nee
essary for a citizen Of this coun-
try TO leave the United States, it
was explained, but the state de-
partment issues them as the most
convenient proof Of American cit
izenship which is required for adj
mission to virtually all foreign
countries.
:. High government officials We're
not inclined to discuss the efforts
being made to effect the return Of
Morse to this country. Secretary
Hughes conferred with Ambassador
Jasserand of France at the state
department, but il was not disclos-
ed whether the subject Of Morse's
departure on the Paris, which, un-
der international law, is French
territory, was under discussion.
Secretary DENLY said he had not
been requested to furnish a de-
stroyer to take Morse off the Paris
and that he could not have taken
him off foreign. ship if he had
been asked to do so.
Beyond declaring that the gov
ernment would make every legiti-
mate effort to bring Morse back to
the United States, neither Elmer
Schlesinger, general counsel of the
shipping board, nor Fletcher
Dobyns, special assistant in charge
Of the case, would discuss it,