Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-20
0nassisF Fails
Clear Foo
On Ship Pact


A philosophical Greek ship
owner Of almost legendary
fame, Aristotle Socrates onas-
sls. has q House Merchant Ma
rine subcommittee thoroughly
at sea.
I'm figures Of speech and lin
aulstic gymnastics kept the leg
islators on edge and on the
alert yesterday. And his A.
nanccs apparently left them
confused and curious. He was
scheduled 10 visit the subcom-
mittee today for more Of the
same. s@t
Mr.. onassis literally stood
his ground during three hours
of interrogation yesterday rs
the subcommittee tried to chart
his intricate courses through
the Maritime Administration.
the Justice Department and the
Victory Ship program. He re-
NAMED on his feet throughout
the session.
The story. stretching back q
dozen years and extending into
Federal Court lawsuits and
Federal agency complaints Of
defaulted contracts. Is not es-
pecialIy new. But the way MIR.
Onassis described 1t was both
novel In manner and news to
some Of the subcommittee
members.
Confusion Not Important
To him, at least. everything
was clear and calm. When
Representative Zelenko. DEM
ocrat Of New York. plaintively
admitted he was suspicious but
confused, Mr.. onassis blandly
told him:
IF you put the questions the
way you do you'll be confused
more"
The testimony Of Mr.. Onassis
attracted q standing-room only
audience. It was obviously
bafaed by technicalities Of his
testimony. but apparently In
trigued by the man who owns
the Monte Carlo casino In
Monaco and who has launched
or at least purchased-more
than 100 ships.
He gave no clue to the actual
size or extent Of his financial
holdings. But the record Of his
transactions during the past 20
years as web as the book value
Of litigation involving him runs
well into the millions.
The immediate upshot Of yes
terday's hearing was a subcom-
mittee request that Mr.. Onas-
sis and his attorney. Edward j.
Ross Of New York, produce
within O week or so detailed
records showing the extent Of
his control in various shipping
companies. particularly the
Arizona Co.
Subcommittee members want
to know whether that Pana-
manian company has any close
connection with Mr.. Onassis
and with Victory Carriers, Inc.
Mr.. Onassis was subpoenaed
to testify yesterday because Of
the subcommittee's interest in
q Justice Department suit to
recover damages from Victory
Carriers, Inc, for alleged de-
fault on q contract to build
three tankers for American flag
operation. Under the law, con-
trolling stock interest in VIC
tory Carriers, Inc, must be
held by United States citizens.
Two tankers, Of $4,000 tons
each, are being built by the
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp.
for scheduled delivery in 1859
and 1860. Capt. Granville Con-
way. president Of Victory Car
riers, Inc, testified earlier this
week that the contracts for
those have not been Cancelled.
He said, however, he doubted
that proposed third ,000-ton
tanker could be built.
Mr.. onassis told the subcom-
mittee yesterday he has a Is
per cent interest in Victory
Carriers, Inc, through the
Arizona Co. His occasional at
tendance at meetings of the
board of trustees of Victory
Carriers, he said, were solely
for discussion purposes and moi
to vote or exercise any control
The shipbuilder said he had
an IS per cent interest ir
Arizona.
.BrOwnelI Firm Hired
MIR. Zelenko showed interest
also in a December, 1855, JUS
tlce Department settlement Of
civil and criminal complaints in
q SUIT it had filed some years
earlier against Mr.. Onassis. He
observed that Herbert Brownel
was then Attorney General anc
that Mr.. OnassiS several year:
previously had obtained lega
advice from Mr.. Brownell's Law
firm in New York relating to
foreigners eligibility to minor
ity stockholding rights in Amer
ican-fiag operated shipping
concerns.
MIR. Onassis maintained there
was nothing wrong about that
But he volunteered: I'VE surf
paid that law Arm q fancy fee
- ~ ~ - ~ - - z