Detroit evening times., 1943-08-27
Our Gift Of Ships


Of this year, Prime Minister Churchill re-
ported to Parliament ON the transfer of not
less than 100 American ships and perhaps
as many rs 99ttt- 70 the British flag.
The transfer to our flag of 80 to 200
ships, he SAID has already begun and will
be spread over 10 months There is no
financial arrangement The method we
work on is that We use all things to our
common advantage.
MR.. CHI RCHILL supported this report with
tN1 direct quotation from a letter sent him by
President Roosevelt saving:
Il am directing the W az Shipping Administra-
ton under appropriate bareboat arrangements, to
number to your flag for temporary wartime duty
during each of the suggested next 10 months.
minimum of II ships.
Il have furthermore suggested to them that
this be increased to 20"
D 9TH Mr Churchill and MI Roosevelt made it
l. clear that they had agreed upon this transac-
tion during the prime minister's visit to the United
States Immediately following the Japanese attack
at Pearl Hatbor.
And both stressed the agreement between
them that Brtain's excess of trained maritime
personnel and our preponderance of ship building
facilities made it necessar9- and wise transaction.
1t is not to be doubted that Mr. Churchill was
quite correct in calling the transaction "a source
of keen satisfaction to the House and to the
country"
Mr. Churchill Hnquestionably had the approval
of British naval and maritime authorities in MAX
ing the deal, and had probably consulted them.
HOWEVER, if it has been assumed that Mr..
1 Roosevelt likewise had consulted and had ap-
proval from American naval and maritime author-
ties that now appears to be very much in error
For here is what the Army and Navy Jour
nal says about the matter in an editorial in its
July 81, 1913, issue:
1T is a matter of CONCERN to the navy, and
should be TO the nation that our government is
transferring Liberty ships to foreign registry
Confirmed anew is the lesson that war re-
quIreS. merchantmen for its successful conduct
Our fleets could not operate without trains made
up of such vessels. Our troops could not be trans
ported and supplied and our Allies could not be
munitiOned and fed without them.
Indeed, it is common knowledge that the war
would have been lost had not our shpyards
COaXed encouraged and inspired by our efficient
maritime commission. turned out Liberties in ever
increasing numbers The President estimates that
deliveries will total over l9 million tons this year
and q million tons next year.
"THEREFORE, the national interest demands
that the great fleet we have in being and are
constructing shall not be WHITFIELD AWAY but
shall be preserved for in time of peace in order
that our goods may be placed in markets on COM
petItIve terms with those of other nations. and
held as reserve for employ ment in future wars
1T follows that there is concern over the ac-
ton OF our government in trans ferrng 200 Lber-
ties OF over two million deadWeght tons TO foreign
registry even though it be under charter and we
retain title.
"The reason advanced is that foreigners have
the men ready to operate them while we have not
which is an \NARRANTED REFLECTION
upon the results OF the training courses 50 satsfac-
tOrily conducted b, the maritime commission and
the coast guard.
I'D ROBABL1 the truth lies in aCquieScence in
the policy OF maritime governments which.
FEARING OF r 81 IPERIORITN N THE POST.
WAR PERIOD. are INSISTING that the United