| Show t U. U S. S S RECI RECEIVES NAZI WARNING ON SHIP MOVE I I Spokesman Calls I Hinted Seizure I Warlike Action BERLIN Dec 21 INS INS INS- Germany Saturday warned the United States government that any move to requisition German German German Ger Ger- man or Italian ships in American American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean ports and sell them to Great Britain will vill be considered considered consid consid- ered a warlike act by the German Germar government The warning was issued by an official spokesman of the German German German Ger Ger- man government in connection with British Shipping Minister Cross's statement that Britain is casting a covetous eye on German German German Ger Ger- man and Italian ships tied up in American ports and Washington reports the American government is considering turning them over overto overto overto to the British Charging that while Germany is restraining itself to the point of self-effacement self the United States is pursuing a continuous policy of pricks pin-pricks challenges humiliations and moral aggression aggression aggression sion the spokesman said I speak with tremendous earnestness in my capacity as your official informant The entire attention of the German- German government is is c centered upon American reaction to the proposal of Cross which h is nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing more than an incitement to America to commit a warlike act There was a growing impression in Berlin that summary developments developments developments develop develop- ments may be expected if President President President dent Roosevelt oversteps what Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many regards as the limit of all aid short of war to Great Brit Brit- ain am The Ti-ic belief prevailed in neutral quarters that the German government government government govern govern- ment would consider President Roosevelt responsible If the United States should suddenly find itself involved in war with the axis powers powers powers pow pow- ers including Japan Simultaneously it was an- an Continued on Page Pace Two Column One BERLIN WARNS 1 US U.S. ON VESSELS Continued from Page One the German government has informed the state department department depart depart- ment in Washington that members of the staff of the United States embassy in Paris aided and sheltered sheltered shel shel- tereci an agent of the British secret service The official German announcement announcement announcement announce announce- ment said the reich has demanded that Washington recall the embassy embassy embassy em em- bassy staff members implicated in this alleged episode U. U S. S Recall Claimed In response to the German demand denand de de- de- de nand mand it was announced the American government recalled them and informed the reich an investigation had been launched The spokesman went on to say Germany had become accustomed to such distortions and circumventions circumventions circumventions circum circum- of international law from its experiences at Geneva where the allies always found a away away away way of playing angel before the world while blowing the safe be behind behind behind be- be hind the scenes But he said the reich was closely closely closely close close- ly watching what the United States' States reply Is going to be to the British suggestion that AmerIca America America Amer Amer- ica rob robS th the ships of a foreign power Words Mark Departure The spokesman's declaration marked the first outspoken revelation revelation revelation reve reve- lation that the reich is scrutinizing ev every ry move made made by President Roosevelt to determine when his measures short of war to aid Britain overstep the limit set setup setup setup up by Germany In the past the reich has follow followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed low d a policy of silence with re regard regard regard re- re gard to the United States on the announced ground that it did not wish to interfere in American domestic aff affairs irs But in Berlin German quarters In recent months have openly characterized the United States as asno asno asno no longer neutral but merely nonbelligerent German quarters regard President President President dent Roosevelt's program for supplying supplying supplying sup sup- plying ammunition and arms to Britain without cash payments and the statement by the British minister of shipping as the first red light indicating that AmerIca America America Amer Amer- ica may find herself active in the war if she continues her one sided aggressive provocative ac actions actions actions ac- ac against the European conti conti- nent |
