Evening star., 1941-05-02

" cLtStHty SfCtpPtHy fLOO HI HHtCI-
lean ports or ,Udters.
By the Associated Press.
An Unexpectedly strong move de-
veloped in the Senate today for
curbing the proposed authority of
the President to turn over seized
Axis shipping to Great Britain.
Projected as an integral part of
legislation which would permit the
President to requisition and pay for
about 80 foreign-fiag vessels lying
idle in United States ports, this
provision was said to have aroused
a storm of protest within the Sem
ate Commerce Committee.
Some committee members as
serted that the transfer of one bel
ligerent's ships to another belligerent
could only be regarded as "an act
Of war"
Chairman Emory S. Land of the
Maritime Commission disagreed
with this view, although Senators
Clark, Democrat, of Missouri; john
son, Republican, of California and
others took the stand that such a
transfer would be a warlike gesture.
May Be Restricted to U. S. Use.
Despite reported administratio
pressure to keep the provision in
the bill, Chairman Bailey said he
would not be surprised if majority
voted to restrict to American use
the German and italian ships re-
Gently taken into protective Gus
tody" by the Coast Guard. Some
other committee members disagreed,
however, with Senator Bailey's ap-
praisal of the opposition strength.
Chairman George of the Foreign
Relations Committee, who intro
duced the ship requisition legisla-
tion predicted that some compromise
would be worked out under which
the Axis vessels could be used in
American coastal trade.
AS the measure was reported by a
House committee, it would authorize
the President not only to take over
foreign flag vessels in this country,
but to negotiate for the purchase
of idle vessels in other Western
Hemisphere ports.
Under present plans, all such YES
sells would be put into the 1000, ,O00-
ton shipping pool the President has
instructed the Maritime Commission
to assemble for transfer to foreign
registry.
50 Tankers Assigned.
The commission announced yes
terday that so big American tankers
would be assigned to carry oil from
South American ports to North At
lantic ports, where it will be trans
shipped for British use. The tankers
would remain under American reg
istry.
Wherever railroad and water
facilities are available, Admiral Land
was reported to have told the Senate
committee, ships would be taken and
the transportation burden placed on
the railroads. Similarly, he was
quoted as saying, shipping through
the Panama Canal would be reduced
sharply by taking vessels out of that
service.
In addition, Admiral Land was
said to have disclosed plans to
acquire Great Lakes and river craft
which might be placed into the
coastal trade on necessary routes,
to make larger vessels now in use
there available for the British.
With the Senate committee de-
laying action on the ship acquisi-
ton bill until the House acts on it
next week, it seemed likely that the
convoy issue would be raised when
the measure finally reaches the Sen
ate floor.
Senator Tobey, Republican, of New
Hampshire served notice that he
would seek to amend the measure
to incorporate his resolution, pigeon
holed by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, to put Congress on record
against the use Of the Navy to guard
war shipments to Britain.