Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1940, Page 3

Blockade Discussed By Allies’ Advisers And U. S. Officials Detailed Conference Arranged for Today With Grady By GARNETT D. HORNER. Measures to ease the impact on American foreign trade of the al- lied blockade of Germany and other wartime restrictions en commerce were studied today by Assistant Sec- retary of State Henry F. Grady and |, British and French economic ex- perts. Frank Ashton-Gwatkin, adviser to the British ministry for economic warfare, and Charles Rist, formerly deputy governor of the Bank of France and now an economic ad- viser to the French minister of blockade, arrived here yesterday on their mission of “conciliation and explanation” to assist their Ambas- sadors in seeking to smooth out trade difficulties with this country. The experts conferred briefly late Yesterday with Secretary of State Hull, Assistant Secretary A. A. Berle, Jr, and James C. Dunn; State De- partment political adviser, arrang- ing the more detailed conference with Mr. Grady for today. They are expected to confer with numer- ous other officials here. It was understood that Mr. Ash- ton-Gwatkin and Mr. Rist would seek to lay the technical ground- work in their discussions with Amer- ican officials for a possible settle- ment of the economic points of friction between the United States and the allies to be worked by the British and French Ambassadors with Mr. Hull. Discussion of Normal Trade. Maintenance of normal trade be- tween this country and the allies was understood to be the chief prob- lem up for discussion with Mr. Grady today. This problem involves the reciprocal trade agreements be- tween the United States and the two countries. Britain has virtually ceased im- ports of American tobacco and has sharply curtailed allotment of for- eign exchange for purchase here of other “luxury” products, such as fruit. If such restrictions go so far as to nullify the effect of concessions granted this country in the trade agreements, retaliatory action would be possible. Meanwhile, Chairman Harrison of the Senate Finance Committee called a meeting of his group to- morrow to act on the House- approved resolution which would continue for another three years the administration’s authority to nego- tiate new trade agreements. Com- mittee approval of the measure is expected, with Senate debate prob- ably beginning Monday. Points of Friction. In addition to the problems in eonnection with trade between the United States and the allies, the British and French experts were ex- pected to take up in their discussions here points of friction arising from the economic warfare against Ger- many, including the blockade of German exports to the United States, the forcing of American ships into allied ports within the for- bidden “combat area” for contra- band search, censorship of Ameri- can mails and other interference with our shipping. Mr. Ashton-Gwatkin and Mr. Rist also arranged to discuss the British system of navicerts, through which British authorities issue passes for certain items of cargo through the allied patrols. Proposed establish- ment of a contraband control port in Canada, probably at St. John, New Brunswick, to avoid examina- tion of American ships in European waters, also may be discussed. Another problem to be worked out Involves the allied plan for imposing & rationing system on imports of neutrals adjacent to Germany. The British are said to be uneasy over increased American exports to such neutrals in recent months. Curbs Arouse Concern. Great Britain’s restrictions on some of her own imports, intended to conserve foreign exchange for the purchase of war materials, have aroused concern here lest closing of the British market to some Amer- ican products may change the Brit- Ish consumers’ tastes and prevent resumption of normal sales after the war. Britain now is purchasing its to- bacco from Turkey, partly as a means of enabling Turkey to repay | huge loans and partly for its po- litical effect on Britain’s new ally. If only Turkish tobacco is smoked in England throughout the war, the average Briton's taste might be di- rected permanently toward the Turkish brands. This, in the inverse, was what happened in the World War. Brit- ish smokers, who then favored | Turkish tobacco, were cut off from it entirely, because Turkey was an ally of Germany. American to- bacco captured the British market 80 thoroughly that it dominated it right up to the time war began last September. Britain and France argue that they are greatly increasing their purchases of war materials, particu- larly airplanes, in the United States, and thereby augmenting prosperity here which will be reflected in added domestic sales of the American groducts which the allies no longer Queen Elizabeth (Continued From First Page.) Harbor—apparently sure, now, that she was in safe waters. “War Paint” Hastily Applied. Below the waterline the ship showed dark red and along the waterline there were patches of black under the gray paint, indi- cating her “war paint” had been hastily applied for the voyage. Poor visibility that hampered the observations of passengers in the welcoming ‘planes improved as the Queen Elizabeth neared the harbor. It was estimated at that time that the ship was making approxi- mately 28 knots. Meanwhile, preparations were made to greet the Queen Elizabeth at her new berth, where two dredges have recently been deepening the north side of the slip for her huge bulk. The newcomer will lie snugly in a $113,750,000 maritime “Klondike” on the New York water front, alongside the $60,000,000 French liner Nor- mandie and the Queen Elizabeth’s sister ship, the $25,000,000 Queen Ap-olludeuflolzsomenmsh- NEW YORK.—REACHES SAFETY AFTER MYSTERY DASH—The 85,000-ton, $28,- 750,000 British liner Queen Elizabeth, shown in this airview made today off Fire Island, close to the southern shore of Long Island as she glided through American tioned in the pier vicinity, and not even newsmen or photographers were allowed to enter the piershed. In completing her strange maiden voyage the Queen Elizabeth wrote a new chapter in wartime drama. Overshadows Other “Exiles.” The world's largest liner comes to New York as a self-exile from Eng- land to take refuge from the worries ot war and to join the company of the other great liners too valuable to risk in submarine-infested waters while the smaller, “expendable” ships ply the allied war-time trade. The new queen moves in and over- shadows in size and potential splen- | dor the Queen Mary and the French liners Normandie and Ile de France, all laid up “for the duration” at the outset of the war six months ago. As news of the Queen Elizabeth's audacious dash leaked out, the new but considerably smaller British liner Mauretania was moved out of the North River pier that harbors the Normandie and Queen Mary to make a place for the new queen— and it promised to be a tight fit. The Mauretania was berthed at the midtown pier of the now idle! North German-Lloyd Line from which the Nazi merchant flagship Bremen sped away just before the war began on a hazardous, mean- dering vovage home, by way of the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. The Queen Elizabeth's maiden trip was—besides a dash to safety from bombings at home—obviously & British reply to German claims of submarine power and to the boasts of the Nazi high command over the Bremen'’s circuitously safe pas- sage home on which a British sub- | marine commander claimed he had a chance to destroy it—but held his fire. Will Be Finest Ship Afloat. ‘When her inside fittings are com- pleted the Queen Elizabeth will be the finest as well as the largest ship afloat. Harbor sources speculated that she would remain in her unfin- ished stage, to be readily convertible to any special uses as Britain's needs arose. They pointed out also that the luxurious interiors of other idling ships are naturally deteriorat- ing. At sea, the Queen Elizabeth re- lied on her potential top speed of 32 knots to outrun any alien bel- ligerent, although her new engines had to be coddled like an automo- bile snailing through its first 500 miles—“working in.” Elaborate precautions were taken by police officials, not only to guard against any sabotage attempt, but also to handle crowds of curious around the pier at the foot of Fif- tieth street. Only persons on official business were permitted to board the Queen Elizabeth. She was palced under heavy guard. Crowds gathered at the pier last night with the first rumors that the vessel was off New York. Extra guards were assigned to keep the vicinity of the pier cleared. There was no welcoming commit- tee of British officials and Ameri- can national State and city repre- sentatives as greeted the Queen Mary in 1936 and other new liners on their maiden voyages. Britain Calls Feat Proof Its Navy Commands Seas LONDON, March 7 (P)—An- nouncement that the giant liner |f Queen Elizabeth had crossed the Atlantic unharmed on a secret maiden trip was hailed throughout Great Britain today as striking proof of the Royal Navy's command of the seas and a remarkable tribute to Englishman’s ability to keep an important secret. “Thousands of Clydeside people knew the Elizabeth had left her berth nine days ago and the Scottish and national press of Great Britain knew it” said the authoritative British Press Association, “and yet the secret was kept. “The lives of the crew of the great ship were at stake, not to mention Egg and Stove 2 5 39 Ton nous Smokeless Ten Coal, Fuel Oil—Oil Burners PENNANT RS, MILLER cellent Bitumi- ash content. Phone NAt. 817 THE- EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, 'D. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1940 waters, after a secret voyage from Clydeside. For safety’s sake the world’s largest liner probably will remain tied up here alongside the Queen Mary and the Nor- mandie for the duration of the war. Nazi Patrol Thrust | Repulsed, Say French By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 7~Prench mili- tary reports said today that an- other German patrol tiffust at a French outpost was “easily repulsed” last night east of the Moselle River, near the Luxembourg border. Elsewhere the land front was calm yesterday, and bad visibility ground- ed air forces on both sides except for one German plane which made a reconnoitering flight over Eastern France. Charge British Over Denmark. BERLIN, March 7 (#)—The Ger- man high command today charged that & British airman violated Dan- ish territory Tuesday night. ‘The statement appeared in the regular communique, which fol- lows: “No special events on the western front. “Our own air reconnaissance con- tinued against England. A single British airplane on the night of March 5-6 entered German (Helgo- land) Bight, touching Northwestern German coast districts. “One British plane north of Syit Island entered Danish territory.” SIX—!IGNT——TOIP!DO NOW, LIBERAL ALLOWANCE H. .I. IROWN PONTIAC, Inc. Direet Factory De: Rossiyn, Va. (Just Across Koy Bridse) FALSE TEETH REPAIRED WHILE YOU WAIT ROBT. B. SCOTT. DENTAL TECH. Good Vision Is Priceless ... WEWILLNOT Your Eyes Deserve ‘& SACRIFICE GOOD QUALITY! GLASSES /975 is the Lowest Prics ot which glasses of our quality con be sold! ® Any lenses your eyes require, in choice of rims or rimless styles, EXAMINATION mcludld 75 —A. P. Wirephoto, | |ONE LOW the pride of the British Navy itself. Clydsiders * * * remembered Brit- ain’s guardian motto, ‘Careless talk costs lives.’” 3 “Her arrival in New York,” con- tinued the press association, “gives Adolf Hitler and Admiral Raeder— chief of the Nazi sea terror cam- paign—a startling shock in view of the Nazi claim to ‘control of the oceans.’” It was disclosed today that Capt. J. C. Townley commanded the Queen Elizabeth on her maiden voyage. He has commanded the Cunard liners Queen Mary and Aquitania. With him were a num- ber of technical experts. British officials said the Queen | Elizabeth salled to make room for | other ships. It was explained that | every berth was needed for me‘ stream of shipping which enters ports of the United Kingdom. The first official comment of the British government on the Queen Elizabeth’s voyage came from Win- ston Churchill, first lord of the ad- miralty. He said: “Splendid! Very good work, in- Story Dominates Front Page. The British press subordinated other news to front page announce- ments.of the crossing, illustrated with photographs of the gray< hulled liner leaving Clyde. Eyewitnesses of the departure on February 26, now permitted to talk, said the liner apparently was not armed. The Elizabeth sailed without pass- engers and manned by a crew sworn to secrecy. She carried a big fuel supply in case a submarine alarm necessitated a change in her route. Because of lack of time to “run in” her engines, her speed was held down in crossing the Atlantic. Delayed reports of the departure said Royal Air Force planes circled the liner as she dropped down the River Clyde. The Elizabeth answered their roaring motors with her deep bass siren. No Alarms Given. From the time the liner left her fitting-out station until she com- pleted the crossing not a single alarm was given aboard her. “Had any evilly disposed Central European personage wished to in- terfere with the proceedings he had due notice,” declared the Daily Herald “On June 20, 1939, it was an- nounced officially that February 26, 1940, would be the day for moving the Queen Elizabeth. She kept to schedule.” It was believed in shipping cir- cles here the Queen Elizabeth would remain in New York throughout the war. New York was regarded as the most suitable haven removed from the war zone. LS ‘With the coming of spring and possible expansion of German air activity the liner's berth at Clyde, the narrowest point of Scotland, TODAY’S SPECIAL 1 carat perfect white $500.00 KAHN- OPPENHEIMER Inc. Value 903 F 8t N.W. “It Sounds Foolish fo Stop. .. « « o these treatments, but I can’t afford them now!” Den't stop. The Exchange will pay that bill. You repay in small amounts with no interest or ex- tras. Ask your physician or dentist or call— REpublic 2126 Modical-Dental Exchange Keith-Albee Bidg., 15th & G Sts. Elastic Stockings Made right, fitted right, priced right. Perfect Satisfaction Always at GIBSON'S 917G St. N.W. would be exposed to possible attack, although the berth has not been bombed thus far. Although no details were avail- able it generally was assumed that the liner was escorted by a power- ful armada using naval seaplanes for reconnaissance. The traffic for which she was built —luxury trans-Atlantic service—is | virtually non-existent due to the war and United States neutrality | laws, which prohibit Americans from traveling direct to belligerent ports. Official statements on reasons for | the voyage were withheld for the time being. Berlin Derides Voyage; Sees Lack of Confidence BERLIN, March 7 (#).—In jocular mood concerning the voyage to New York of the new British liner Queen Elizhbeth, authorized German sources today commented: “The stealthy trip into a United States harbor does not speak well for British confidence in victory.” They said, “first the British took gold over there, then apparently other treasures, and forgot to bring back certain historical documents. (Apparently a reference to a ‘copy | |of England’s Magna Charta, de-| posited in Washington.) “Now they must pay $1,000 a day docking charges. Why don't they leave the ship in British harbors if | they are confident of victory?” For that matter, they asked, | “what is the Queen Elizabeth, any- way? It is not even finished. In fact, it is half a skeleton. Now, the Bremen—that was something!” (They referred to the German What is good for KIDNEY| TROUBLE?‘ ANSWER—for_over 30 | jears many physi have been prescribing | the famous MOUNTAIN VALLEY WATER from Hot Springs. Ark. WHY — Its’ alkalinlty | iends to meutralize the | tem and activates Kidneys. Phone for booklet, ME. 1082, MOUNTAIN VALLEY From HOT SPRINGS, ARK. MINERAL WATER| 1405 K St. N.W. ME. 1062 | Send for This Book | It Tells cing . . MILL and NATIONALLY KNOWN BABY SNO A NEW HOME” Than One Dollar Per Day It contains information on F. H. A. finan- . What to expect for your money .. How to plan for future needs. .. plans . .. Ask for Your Free Copy EISINGER Lumeer Co Bethesda, Md.——WI. 6300 L Headquarters for “HOW TO ACQUIRE at Less House ete. BUILDING MATERIALS OKS SAYS: GUESS WHAT, FOLKS! DICK POWELL avo MARY MARTIN BECOME REGULAR MEMBERS OF OUR "GOOD NEWS" SHOW TONIGHT! A SPARKLING NEW HALF-HOUR OF RADIO. .. ..wum!flm-ndlur eongs . chkl’ow.lludlflnl Master of Ceremonies . . . plus America’s number one “problem child,” Baby Snooks (Fanny lrlcu) ces H-nluy “Daddy” e ith Willson and this concert orchestrs? PRESENTED BY MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE NOW MORE THAN EVER -@00D TO TNE LAST DROP! TUNE IN! WRC—9 P.M PRICE TO EVERYBODY liner Bremen’s dash last fall from New York to Murmansk, Russia, and subsequent run home through the British blockade.) uuh.. 932 F Shect N.W. 14th and G Sts. IN RAINBOW SHADES The hat for you is the new hand-worked Dobbs—with the new shape-hold- ing O-vo-lo edge and speckled band. bt DOBBS 0.v0-10 1dge ‘750 Sidney West, nc. 141Ha G EUGENE C. GOTT, President