The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-12-07
Proposal to Transfer
Il. S. Ships to Irish Flag

SenooI OF 1oTped0eS.
Proposal to Transfer
U. S. Ships to Irish Flag
One of the most amazing inter-
national moves in all history, SO far
as its inception is concerned, wheth-
er it ever works out or not, is the
proposal to transfer ships now fly
ing the United States flag to Ireland
instead of Panama.
Actually, it amounted to straight
tip from the President of the United
States to the Irish republic and to
International shipping men that while
the United States government would
no longer countenance any transfer
of United States ships to the flag of
Panama, or any other American re-
public, the same objections would
not lie against their transfer to the
Irish flag
Had the scheme been thought out
in advance, and the tip then dis
creetly conveyed, it would be mere
ly a clever device. It was the way
the idea developed that makes it
stand out.
Actually President Roosevelt was
answering questions of newspaper
men about the transfer of United
States flag ships to Panama. He had
added one argument which had not
been printed bcforc-tf1at to dio this
would be to encourage one of the
American republics to take posi-
ton on neutrality divergent from
that taken by the United States.
With this subject disposed Of, the
President was then asked about the
complaints of the Irish Free State
made through its minister in Wash
ington, against the Irish ports being
held to be in danger zones, and
hence forbidden to ships flying the
American flag.
The President expressed his SYM
pathy with Ireland, Belgium, Hol-
land, Denmark (naming these indi-
vidually) and others, but said that
unfortunately the question of wheth-
err a particular part of the sea is a
danger zone is question Of fact,
not sympathy or desire.
Suggests That Irish Buy
Some Ships OF Their Oicn
Finally, the President himself sug-
gested that the Irish should have
some ships of their ownl To the
immediate question of whether the
United States would be interested in
a bid of the Irish for the ships that
cannot now be transferred to the flag
of Panama, the President indicated
that the government might be very
willing to sell. To the further ques-
ton of whether the same objection
would apply to the transfer to the
Irish flag of ships flying the United
States flag which had applied to
their transfer to the Panama flag,
the President answered emphatical-
ly in the negative.
That's how the idea was born, the
President stating that he had heard
no suggestion of it, but would vel
come proposal
Most newspaper men at the con-
ference were SO intensely interested
in the bigger story that the transfer
of additional ships to Panama was
definitely off--this being the first
time that this was really settled
and in the collateral and also ire
mendous story that Secretary Cor.
dell Hull had again won a spectacu.
lar victory (he has never lost bat
tie since he became head of the
department OF state) that very little
attention was paid to this remarka'
BILE Irish story.
But politicians and diplomats alike
are specializing since they have beer
told about 1T. The thing looks fool
proof. For instance, would the Nazis
dare to sink an Irish ship? II they
did, what would be the reactions
(a) of the Irish government and peo
pie, and (b) of the Irish-Americans
in the United States2
BELL Syndicate--WNu servicsl