Evening star., 1941-04-15
Prompt U. 5. Rejection
OF New Rome Protest
On Ship Seizures Seen
Italy Contends Sabotage
Law Is Confined to
Safety Of Vessels
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Italy's latest protest against
seizure Of % OF her ships in Ameri-
can ports was expected today to
meet with prompt and unqualified
rejection.
Noting that the protest was based
on a contention of illegality, in
formed persons recalled that this
Government already has taken the
position that American law fully
justified its action in placing the
ships under Coast Guard protec-
tion and bringing sabotage charges
against most of their officers and
crewmen.
When Coast Guardsmen boarded
the vessels they found that vital
machinery of Is had been seriously
damaged. The Rome government,
in note delivered to Secretary of
State Hull yesterday by the Italian
Ambassador, Prince Colonna,
argued that this damage actually
did not endanger the safety of the
vessels, cargo or persons aboard,
and that American law covered
only cases in which such safety was
endangered.
Other Contentious.
The note also contended that the
law prohibiting destruction or in
jury to a vessel was never intend
ed to cover the case of an owners
dismantling, destroying or remov-
ing engine machinery" carried
aboard the ship.
To incriminate officers or crew
members for acts against the ma
chinery Of the ships lis In conflict
with the principles of international
law" the note added. 1t argued
that acts Of a ships master as the
legitimate representative of its own
er are an exercise of the right Of
property.
Further the note contended there
was no legal ground" for action
against the Italian crews for viola
ton of the immigration laws. be-
cause they were living aboard their
ships, and the law involved was
intended to apply only to sea
men who have deserted their ships. ="
Previously both Italy and Ger
many, two of whose ships were
seized, had entered initial protests
and both met with reflections. No
change of United States attitude
was expected to result from Rome
presentation of the legalistic argu-
ments.
Long Chain of Events.
This newest diplomatic skirmish
was regarded here as but another
in long chain of events contribut-
ing to the deterioration of once
friendly italian relations.
Already as a result of the ship
seizures Italy has recalled her
Washington Naval Attache, Admiral
Alberto Lais, in response to a de-
mand by this Government. and in
turn has requested the withdrawal
of the assistant American Military
Attache in Rome, Maj. William D.
Bentley In conformity with usual
diplomatic procedure, Washington
probably will announce soon the as
signment of Maj. Bentley to some
other post.
American-Italian relations hit the
downhill trend with refusal by the
United States to recognize Musso-
lini's conquests in Ethiopia and AL
bania and have been strained
further since the start of the Euro
pean War and President Roosevelt s
Characterization of Italy's attack
on embattled France as a stab in
the back" American aid to Britain
and pledges of aid to Greece and
Yugoslavia have added heavily to
the strain.
Possible Italian Moves.
The cumulative effect of these and
other antagonistic policies and in
cidents between the two nations has
given rise to speculation here that
Mussolini may be considering:
l. Breaking off diplomatic rela-
tions with the United States: or,
2. Recalling Ambassador Colonna
as an "unfriendly" gesture and leav-
ing a less-important official in
charge of the Washington Embassy.
This would put italian relations on
the same plane as German relations
since the German Ambassador went
home months ago.
No official confirmation involving
either Of those severe measures has
been given in Washington or Rome,
however, and it is believed in in
formed circles here that II Duce
would take such action only as q
last resort.