Evening star., 1939-11-04
III u. 5. Sailor Is Nazis'
Excuse for Docking
Flint, Envoy Reports
Mrs. Horrimon Says Crew
Told in Advance Their
Reason Wasn't Enough

0SvSA4AAAA<hAS
ican freighter City Of Flint reached
the State Department last night
from its only woman envoy, Mrs. j.
Borden Hartman, Minister at Oslo.
The commander Of the German
prize crew In charge Of the seized
ship requested permission to enter
the harbor at Haugesund, Norway,
Mrs. Hartman reported, on the
ground that an American sailor was
Ill and that he wanted to deliver
him to the United States Consul.
Norwegian authorities sent 4 doctor
aboard to investigate.
after investigation the doctor re-
ported the seaman was not sum-
GENTLY i'll to justify granting permis-
sion for the vessel to anchor" Mrs.
Hartman said.
Nevertheless, the vessel did
anchor and the Norwegian authori-
ties then took the action outlined, in
accordance with international law"
The German crew was interned,
her report explained, and the Ameri-
can crew released.
No Request Made by U. s.
The freighter. en- route to Great
Britain, was captured by Germans
early last month as carrier of con-
traband. The German prize crew
took her to Murmansk, Russia, and
the United States Government then
demanded that Soviet officials re-
lease the vessel. asserting there was
no justification for taking her to a
neutral port.
The Soviet authorities ordered her
to leave in charge OF the German
crew, however, and the vessel had
since been making its hazardous way
to Germany.
1t was reported reliably that the
freeing of the vessel by Norway was
not done in response to any diplo-
matte request from this country.
O1dcials in Washington said they
did not consider Norway's action
should be construed as favor to
the United States. They pointed out
Norway was acting in accordance
with provisions of international law
which stipulate that it is not un-
neutral to permit a prize vessel to
traverse a neutral nations territorial
waters, but that the prize shall not
be allowed to put into neutral port
except under certain conditions.
Flint Now Orphan Vessel.
Meanwhile. belief was expressed in
congressional circles that the City of
Flint is something Of an orphan ves-
sci under the new United States
neutrality law. With President
Roosevelt's signature on the legisla-
ton, 1t was felt that this Nation no
longer would have ofncial interest in
the ship because 1t would be travel
ing "at its own risk"
The neutrality measure forbids
commerce with states at war, but
an exemption is provided for vessels
which sailed before invocation OF
the law and issuance of presidential
proclamations naming belligeren1
states. However, the legislation say.
such a vessel at sea shall proceed
at its own risk" and no loss in.
CURED by 1t or its cargo shall bt
the basis Of any claim by the United
States.
State Department officials sale
Mrs. Hartman plans to arrive Mon
day at Bergen, Norway, where the
City of Flint arrived today, to OBJ
tain f1rst-hand information regard
ing the welfare of the crew. Amer
ican Consul Maurice P. Dunlap was
on hand at Bergen and it was as
sumed he was doing his utmost tc
get full information on circum-
stances surrounding the freighter's
! experience.
The State Department issued the
following statement last night:
The American Minister to Nor
way, Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman, re-
ported at 2 o'clock Saturday morn
ing (Oslo time) that she had re-
ceived telephone report from the
American Consul at Bergen, Mr.
Maurice P. Dunlap, to the effect
that the American steamship City
of Flint now flies the American
flag, the German prize crew hav.
ing been interned and the American
crew released by Norwegian authori-
ties"
Consul Dunlap had been so in.
formed by Norwegian naval authori.
ties at Bergen.
1T appears that the commander