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March, 1917 THE MARINE REVIEW 115 Ne TOU §j« iiiiiiiTTiiTtTiTitiTiTtTTTTTTTTTTIKNKiNNKNHKKNNRE = 2 a HE sudden crisis in the relations between the any: person not a citizen of the United States, or | United States and Germany has already had transferred to a foreign registry or flag.’ 2 One important result—the closing of the “And whereas, many ship owners of the United: | last big free-ship market in the world. President States are permitting their ships to pass to alien | Wilson, on Feb. 5, issued a proclamation forbid- registers and to foreign trade in which we do not | ding the sale, lease or charter of any American participate and from which they cannot be bought | vessel to any person who is not an American back to serve the needs of our water-borne com- a citizen, or the transfer of any American vessel to merce without the permission of governments of | a foreign registry or flag without the approval of foreign nations; . the shipping board. “Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President | This action is preliminary to the adoption of of the United States of America, acting under and | other measures that probably would follow declara- by virtue of the authority conferred in me by | tion of war. These measures, it is believed, now said act of congress, do hereby declare and pro- | would include the requisition of merchant vessels claim that I have found that there exists a national = by the government. President Wilson’s proclama- emergency arising from the insufficiency of mari- | tion will have the effect of conserving the Amer- time tonnage to carry the products of the farms, = ican merchant shipping facilities, and is in line with forests, mines, and manufacturing industries of a similar measures adopted by the belligerents and the United States to their consumers abroad and | many other neutrals since the European war within the United States, and I do hereby admon- | began. The shutting down on the sales of Amer- ish all citizens of the United States and every __ ican vessels removes the last big nation from the person to abstain from every violation of the pro- | open ship markets. visions of said act of congress, and I do hereby a Just how serious is the need of conserving our warn them that all violations of such provisions = merchant marine is shown in the article on will be rigorously prosecuted, and I do hereby | page 85. . Supplementing that information, itis of _ enjoin upon all officers of the United States | value to learn that the last report of the bureau charged with the execution of the laws thereof the _ of navigation shows that 109 vessels of 136,549 utmost diligence in preventing violation of said act __ _ gross tons have been sold since July 1, 1916. and this my proclamation issued thereunder, and | President Wilson’s proclamation follows: in bringing to trial and punishment any offenders _ “Whereas, congress did by an ‘act to establish a against the same.” United States shipping board for the purpose of ; ag: encouraging, developing and creating a naval aux- Effect Upon Vessels Now Building iliary and naval reserve and a merchant marine to It is not believed that this action will prevent meet the requirements of the commerce of the American ship yards completing those vessels United States with its territories and possessions which are being built under contract for foreign and with foreign countries; to regulate carriers by account. It is understood that the legality of water engaged in the foreign and interstate com- stopping the sale of a vessel in the stocks has been merce of the United States, and for other pur- discussed at some length by the shipping board, poses,’ approved Sept. 7, 1916, provide that ‘during and it is not determined that such work can be any national emergency the existence of which is prevented from being turned over to the foreigners declared by proclamation of the President, no who had contracted therefor. The law merely vessel, registered or enrolled and licensed under the prevents the sale of any American ship to foreign- laws of the United States shall, without the ap- ers, which ship is now in commission, after it has proval of the board, be sold, leased, or chartered to been registered and enrolled under U. S. registry. Lake Interests Ready to Help President "THE ship builders and ship owners of the Great and ever more vital in'times of war. The demand — Lakes stand ready to place their full resources for iron and steel products from both the allies back of the President in any emergency that may and the United States would be enormous. To develop in our relations with Germany. The ships meet this demand, it would be imperative that iron which are owned and operated on the Great Lakes ore in immense tonnages be transported from are 33 per cent of the entire American merchant the Lake Superior fields. Grain is and would be marine. According to the latest returns, the ship vital to the allies, while coal, which moves in the builders of the Great Lakes are building 165,000 opposite direction, would. be vital in keeping the gross tons of steel merchant vessels. These fig- industries of the north and northwest operating ures furnish an accurate index to the assistance at the maximum. which the Great Lakes interests can give. The Great Lakes yards can turn out ocean-going In case of emergency, possibly the greatest vessels of about 2,100 gross tons in large numbers. assistance that they could give, would be to equal These vessels would be of great benefit, not only or, if possible, excel, the marvelous record set last in serving as auxiliaries to the navy but in ex- year in moving freight. This freight is of vital panding our merchant marine and in replacing our necessity to the United States in times of peace, war losses in merchant tonnage. ee eee sss ss CULL AA HMA is MT ——————————CCC TR