Evening star., 1942-02-21
Convoy System
.IsP|anned for
Coastal Ships
White House Says
U. S. and British
Boots Will Be Pooled

Acting Secretary of State Welles
said today a convoy system or
similar practical measures will be
worked out soon for the protec-
ton of inter- american shipping
against Axis raiders. Simultane-
ously, the White House an
nounced that machinery for
pooling all shipping resources of
the United States and the Brit
ish Empire for use of the United
Nations has been set up here and
in London.
These announcements followed re-
ports that Grated war materials are
piling up on American wharves
awaiting urgently needed cargo ships
to carry them to the Far Pacific
front.
Lack of sufficient shipping, rather
than inadequate production, was
described in some circles as the
most serious obstacle in the way of
bolstering distant lines. However
there was conviction in the Capt.
tai that shipping would be only a
temporary bottleneck.
Agreement Reached.
Formation of Shipping Adjust
ment Board was decided upon by
President Roosevelt and Prime Min
lister Churchill during their confer
ences here earlier in the winter.
The White House said today that
War Shipping Administrator Emory
S. Land is the ranking American
representative on the Washington
board, with Sir Arthur Salter rep
resenting British interests. In Lon
don, Averell Hartman will be the
American spokesman. with Lord
Leathers, Minister of War Trans
port, the British representative.
Mr.. Welles brought the question
of conveying into the discussion in
talking to reporters at his press con-
ference 1t is one way in which
the American republics can cooper
ate effectively for their mutual de-
fense, he pointed out.
1t can be accepted that practical
measures of this character will be
undertaken in the near future. he
added, emphasizing that this does
not imply that such measures are
not already being taken by some of
the American nations.
Brazil Loss Prompts Query.
Mr.. Welles was asked about the
prospect of conveys to protect ships
of the other American republics as
well As the United States in inter-
American trade, as an outgrowth of
the recent sinking of two Brazilian
vessels by German submarines and
other submarine activity in the
Western Atlantic and Caribbean.
The attacks on shipping of Latin
American nations give further proof
of the plans of Hitler and his ac-
complies for worldwide conquest,
Mr.. Welles said. He pointed out
that long before any of the Ameri-
can nations were involved in the
war, some of their ships had been
sunk by German submarines.
Asked about reports that the
Vichy government had permitted
the use of Dakar in French Africa
as refueling base for German sub
marines, Mr.. Welles said he was not
in position to comment without
more precise information.
Meanwhile, on the production front
Senate Appropriations Subcom.
mittee was assured by Undersecre-
tary of War Patterson yesterday
that manufacture of planes, tanks
and guns was going forward rapid
ly. From Admiral Land. who Is
chairman of the Maritime Com
mission, members received a less
encouraging description of the diff
ficulties in turning out cargo vessels
Army Navy Bill Up Monday.
The committee is to act Monday
on the $32,070, ,901 300 Army Navy
appropriations bill, carrying $3,-
852, 900 900 in direct appropriations
and contract authorizations for con.
struction of 1,476 merchant ships
The bill contemplates speeding ur
production to a rate of two ships
a day.
Admiral Land was said to have
told the committee that every eff.
fort was being made to alleviate
shortages in materials, particularly
steel, and to hold down labor dis.
putes which have interrupted con.
struction. He told reporters latel
(See SHIPPING, Page A-4D