Show WELLES HOLDS 1 I NAZIS CANNOT FRIGHTEN N II U. U II u. u o S. S Refutes Refute Charge I Robin Moor Moor Had Contraband WASHINGTON 3 June u n e 1 14 UP Undersecretary UP-Undersecretary of f State Stat Sumner Welles replying t to toG G German threats to sink all ships ship carrying contraband contraband to th the British said Saturday that tha throughout the history of of th the United States people e have never been impressed by what they regard as bluster and threats The German threats ats' ats were madin made mad in connection with the he sinking o othe of the American steamer Robin Moor although a authorized n naz zi qua quarters wo would ld not ad admit t the vessel vessel ves yes sel was su sunk k by one of their sub sub marines marrne 1 1 f I Asks Asks DJ Dispassionate View Vv fYe f- f W Welles Ye lles p permitted r ftp reporters e rte t to quote him Mm directly on n his reply but added that what needs to be bed bedone bedone d done ne is is' t to view the situation created by lY the Robin Moor incident inci mci- d dent t dispassionately W WeI V elles el s declared however f the submarine commanders commander's lack o of proper precautions to Insure the lives Jives and safety of of- the Robin Moors Moor's passengers and crew was was contrary to international law mo mo- and humanity He said i it appeared tragically certain that tha 35 of the ships ship's complement o of 46 had perished Eleven w were re rescued res res rescued rescued res- res cued by a Brazilian s ship iP Certain facts he asserted are clear These he said are the fact an American merchant vessel in accordance with the historic policy of th the United States was on the high seas engaged in peaceful commerce Far Par From Combat Zone While It was in in- inthe the middle o of the Atlantic ocean he said anc arid and Continued on 00 P Page ge T Two o Column One Nazis Cant Can't Bluff U. U S. S Welles Declares Continued from Part Page On One remote from any combat zone which the people have imposed on themselves and carrying nothing considered v contraband by this country it was sunk On board that ship he added were American citizens including women and children In a a half- half hour he continued they were forced to go Into small lifeboats in violation of agreements to which all aU concerned the concerned the United States and Germany Germany are are parties They were left he added in ina a position where they could not be assured of safety Now It appears he concluded about three fourths of these AmerIcan American Amerlean Amer Amer- ican lean citizens have been lost These he said are the real issues Welles recalled that reports had been received several days ago that radio listeners had picked up what they believed an Italian wave short-wave radio broadcast reporting the J. J tafe fe arrival of some survivors Including Including including ing the women and children in Italy He said inquiries had been made in Rome The Italian ministry of marine he said gave the U. U S. S embassy a categorical denial that any survivors survivors survivors sur sur- of the Robin Moor were there there there-or or that the broadcast had originated in Italy Welles' Welles remark that the 35 mIssing missIng missing miss miss- ing members of the Robin Moor probably had perished quelled hope expressed in certain quarters here that they still might be alive aUve The administration meantime was expected to send Germany a strong protest on the sinking based on the contention that insufficient precautions were taken to safeguard safeguard safeguard safe safe- guard the lives of the crew and passengers Well informed qua quarters r t e r s predicted predicted predicted pre pre- the protest would demand compensation and would warn against any further violations of this governments government's reaf recently firmed doctrine of freedom of the seas Welles told his press conference Tuesday that this country stands on the principle of international law that proper precautions must be taken for the lives and safety of passengers and crew members before a ship is sunk Official reports to the state department department de de- de- de based on the accounts of 11 U known survivors said the 46 passengers and crew members were cast adrift in open lifeboats when the submarine torpedoed and shelled the Robin Moor to the bottom bot hot t tom m of the south Atlantic |