Evening star., 1941-05-09

In first World War, United States
Nary pdS credited Uith first and
most efectiUe conDoy serUtce.
BY the Associated Press.
The German government was re-
ported reliably today to have 'chal-
lenged American aid TO Britain for
the first time, in formal note in
with pending legislation
authorizing requisitioning Of foreign
ships.
Secretary of State Hull said new
German note sent by the German
Embassy to the State Department
last night had not yet come to his
attention but that he would study it
soon.
officials made no comment on the
note but from reliably sources it
was reported that Germany made
two points in obJecting to the pend
ing legislation:
/. That it would permit confl5ca-
ton of private property owned by
foreigners.
{. 1IldG fISSlUtIlJ tlOOSSNtIO Cpull
not properly claim the existence Of
a natural emergency in shipping be-
cause the scarcity of ships resulted
from the release of American vessels
to the British.
First Reference to Aid.
This was understood to be the first
time the German government had
ever referred to aid to Britain In a
formal communication to the Amer
ican Government.
The new German note was re-
ported also to have contended that
the requlsitioning Of two German
ships now in protective custody even
though carried out under new legis-
lation, would violate international
law and also 1923 treaty of COM
merce of navigation between the
United States and Germany,
Meanwhile, this Government to-
day disclosed the inauguration Of a
new ship service between the United
States and the Red Sea area with
ships of American registry, devel-
opment aimed at getting material
assistance directly to the British on
what is currently their most active
front, the Middle Eastern.
In making the announcement, the
Maritime Commission refused to give
any details about the new service,
A spokesman for the commission
said the agency had adopted an
ironclad policy against giving out
any information concerning ship
movements that might be detrimen-
tai to the British.
The commission said also sddi-
tional service will be inaugurated to
China. The Red Sea was opened
to American ships by President
Roosevelt three weeks ago with a
proclamation removing that body
Of water from the war zone.
Would Benefit Australia.
The announcement today COIN
clded with the arrival here of Prime
Minister MenzieS of Australia. whose
forces in the Middle East can be
expected to benefit highly through
the new shipping service. There
was speculation here also whether
the increased Oriental service might
not facilitate the transportation of
greater amount of goods directly
to Australia and Singapore than
is now the case.
Meanwhile. renewed cabinet en-
phasis on the Importance of assur-
ing the safe delivery of British-aid
supplies right now" furthered the
belief that showdown was near on
the subject.
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard.
some sources thought, may have in
dicated the way the question will be
posed, when he said last night that
if the United States did not intend
TO see that England gets our help,
let's tell her So"
Picturing British needs as ter
ribly urgent" Secretary Wickard told
farmers conference at Charlotte,
N. c.. that 1T is cruel and bitter
mockery to let the English people
believe we are going to make our
help effective if We have only half
way measures in mind"
A question indirectly affecting
British aid-the requisitioning of
foreign ships idle in American ports
meanwhile had developments on
Capitol Hill, where one group OF
Senators, indicating they felt the
ship bill would pass, talked of SEEK
ing an amendment to the House,
Icao crITnC No. .