Evening star., 1939-11-21
Maritime Commission
Near Final Ruling on
Ship Registry Issue
Early Thinks Door
To Transfers to
Be Closed Soon

A final decision by the Maritime
Commission, presumably containing
a rejection, on the request of the
United States Lines for transfer of
eight of its transatlantic ships to
Panama registry will be forthcom-
ing soon, it was indicated at the
White House today.
Il think the door is all but closed
on such transfers" Secretary Ste
phen T. Early told reporters, "and
that the commission will finish the
closing very shortly.
Obviously, the President doesn't
want to put other American repub-
lies in a position with regard to
wartime European commerce. which
we are not willing to assume our
selves"
President Roosevelt made clear
this objection to the proposed trans
fer at recent press conference.
The commission originally approved
the transfer of the vessels early this
month, but withdrew it's permission
at the request of the President when
1t was charged that the shift would
be violation of the spirit of the
Neutrality Act.
Curran Fight Continued.
With the commission expected to
bring an end to this heated contro-
versy, it moved into a new chapter
of its continuing fight with Joseph
Curran, head of the National Mari
time Union, c. !. o. affiliate.
In a letter made public last night,
Rear Admiral Henry A. Wiley, U. S.
NJ, retired, Maritime Commission
member, accused Mr.. Curran of try
ing to capitalize on the misfor-
tune" of sailors made idle by the
Neutrality Act. Admiral Wiley
charged Mr.. Curran's leadership of
the union apparently is motivated
by powers outside yourself and the
organization"
The reference was not elaborated,
but it recalled charges made by re-
cent witnesses before the Dies Com
mittee that the National Maritime
Union was controlled by Commun-
ists.4 MIR. Curran denied that he
was a Communist or that party
members dominated the unions pol
icies.
Admiral Wiley's letter criticized
Mr.. Curran's attitude toward the
Government plan of offering train
ing in the maritime service schools
to idle seamen.
Recalls Reversal of Policy.
The admiral contended Mr.. Cur
ran accepted the plan at White
House conference November 10 and
then opposed it three days later,
with no satisfactory explanation
If this complete reversal of policy"
The program called for accepting
1000 seamen for training and pay
ing them $50 month in addition
to food, clothing and quarters.
On the morning Of November 13,
Admiral Wley's letter said, Mr..
Curan called Comdr. Derby. chief
Of the Maritime Service, asked when
100 men could enroll and was told
they could be enrolled that day.
However. only 20 men applied over
a two-day period, Admiral Wiley
said.
On the same day that Mr.. Cur
ran called ,Comdr. Derby the union
leader called Admiral Wiley, the
letter said, and informed him that
the union had decided to oppose en-
rollment of unemployed seamen in
the Maritime Service but gave mo
satisfactory explanation of this
complete reversal of policy"
Subsequently, the Maritime Serv-
ices New York Office was picketed,
Admiral Wiley said. by men who
carried such placards as Maritime
Commission says go to concentra-
ton camps or starve."
Handbills Distributed.
Also, he said, handbills were dis
tributed which stated among other
falsehoods" that the Maritime Com
mission "'says no man may obtain
relief unless he first enrolls in the
military schools"
Admiral Wiley went on to say
that past efforts of the commission
to improve the lot of seamen have
"elicited no response from the lead
ership of your organization" He
added:
Many of your men, however,
have not felt the constraint which
apparently is imposed upon you,
and instead of the vituperation and
Misrepresentation to which you con-
tinuously give voice, they have
looked upon the improvements
favorably and co-operated inteli-
gently.
Il have observed your activities
rather closely for the past three
years. - I had hoped that in
time and through experience you
might develop qualities of leader
ship worthy Of the responsibilities
OF your Office. However, my hopes
IN that respect were apparently as
baseless as the charges to which
you now give currency"
Cathedral Convocation