Evening star., 1939-11-09
President Asks
Labor S Advice
In Ship Fight
Holds Conference
In Controversy Over
Registry Transfer
By JOHN c. HENRY.

Planning later consultations with
advisers from the State Department
and Maritime Commission, Presi-
dent Roosevelt, on his return from
Hyde Park today, called in leaders of
organized labor to obtain their sug-
gestions for disposition of American
seamen affected by the Neutrality
Acts restrictions on transatlantic
American shipping.
In the forefront of the whole prob
lem was the bitter controversy rag
ing over the proposed transfer of
part of our merchant marine to for
eign registries, move in which the
President and the Maritime Com
mission apparently were in approval,
but which the State Department
and many members of Congress have
pointedly criticized.
With at least one faction of Or
ganized maritime labor also out
spokenly critical of the contemplated
transfer, Mr.. Roosevelt conferred
first this morning with William
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor. and planned a
subsequent meeting with John l..
Lewis, chairman of the Congress of
Industrial Organizations.
Previous Transfers Authorized.
Meanwhile, Maritime Commission
sources disclosed that the United
Fruit Co. had been authorized last
month to transfer two of it's steam
ships to foreign registry. This dis
closure, together with word that the
commission had approved the trans
fer of tanker in which the Trans
ford Co. was interested, came as the
commission gathered for another
meeting.
1t was estimated at the Maritime
Commission that between 40 and so
transfers, some of them for small
vessels, had been authorized since
the European war began This total
included Is Standard Oil tankers to
Panamanian registry
Leaving the White House, Mr..
Green described the shipping prob
lem as well nigh insoluble" The
A. F. L. leader pointed out that the
| prohibition against American ships
entering the war zones apparently
will bring unemployment to Ameri-
can seamen, regardless of whether
| their transfer to foreign registry is
permitted.
In case it is permitted, he ex-
planned, crews must still be nom
Americans, while in case the shift
is not approved. there is no suffi-
cient demand for the vessels on
other services to keep them all in
operation.
Mr.. Green said he told the Presi-
| dent some form of relief employ
ment probably will be necessary to
care for the American maritime la
bor thus affected Newer ships in
the American merchant marine he
suggested, might profltably be di-
verted into coastal trade or opera
ton in areas not prescribed by the
neutrality law
The Federation executive pointed
out that relatively few deep-sea
sailors are members of the A. F. of
L. on the Atlantic Coast, most of
its strength on this seaboard being
among longshoremen and coastal
seamen.
On the Pacific Coast. where the
Federation has more sailors in its
ranks, the neutrality law has not
curbed shipping operations
The majority Of the Atlantic Coast
seamen affected are members of the
National Maritime Union. C. I. O.,
which voted last night in New York
to march on Washington for a di-
rect protest against the proposed
ship transfer and to seek employ
ment relief.
Mr.. Green said he had no discus
sion with the President about the
strike of A. F.. of L. longshoremen,
which has tied up virtually all At
lantic seaboard coastal shipping.
Precipitated by disclosure that the
United States Lines had asked and
received tentative permission from
the Maritime Commission for the
transfer of eight of its ships to the
Panama fag-permission which
later was Withdrawn-the contro-
Versy was broadened when the COM
mission disclosed yesterday it had
given similar approval for transfer
OF the Is Standard Oil tankers.
This action apparently was taken
even before the Neutrality Act
was signed last week and be-
fore prohibition against Ameri-
can ships entering the combat
areas had been enacted. In antici-
patton of such ban, six of the oil
companys ships already have hoist