FOREIGN-OWNED VESSELS HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 4088 A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE UNITED STATES MARITIME AND H. J. Res. 167 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF APRIL 17, 22, AND 23, 1941 Printed for use of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries HE745 19410 CONTENTS Barkalow, Maj. R. H., Quartermaster Corps, United States Army.. Christenson, Thomas, Scandinavian Seamen's Club.. Cross, Col. Charles P., G-4, Chief of Transportation Division, War Evans, W. Ney, chairman, legislative committee, United States Mari- Land, Rear Admiral Emory S., Chairman, United States Maritime Long, Hon. Breckinridge, Assistant Secretary of State- Lyons, Thomas E., Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Taylor, Hon. Wayne C., Under Secretary of Commerce- III PURCHASE AND CHARTER OF FOREIGN-OWNED VESSELS THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1941 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to notice, Hon. Schuyler O. Bland, chairman, presiding, for consideration of H. R. 4088 and H. J. Res. 167. [Note: Before the completion of the hearings on this proposed legislation, the bill, H. R. 4466, was introduced by the chairman and is shown in the appendix.] The CHAIRMAN. All right, gentlemen, the committee will come to order. We have met this morning for the consideration of H. R. 4088 of which notice of hearing was sent out, and in the meantime a message has been received by the House from the President which was referred to this committee, suggesting legislation. Accordingly, H. J. Res. 167 was introduced by me, and consideration of that measure also will be taken up along with the Oliver bill. I am going to proceed to get rid of the witnesses on these bills as rapidly as possible. The only witness who is not connected with the Departments is Mr. Thomas Christenson, representing the Scandinavian Seamen's Club of America. Is Mr. Christenson here? Mr. Christenson is not here. Are there any other witnesses to be heard other than the Government witnesses? If Mr. Christenson comes in I would like to know it, because I may want to hear some of the Government witnesses in executive session. A favorable report has been received on H. R. 4088, but there was not sufficient time to have it printed, but it will be printed. I have not yet gone over it with sufficient care to say whether it is purely for executive consideration, but I think not. Major Barkalow, have you a statement to offer on these bills? Major BARKALOW. Yes, sir. Do you want me to come forward? The CHAIRMAN. Yes. Major BARKALOW. Yes, sir. STATEMENT OF MAJ. R. H. BARKALOW, QUARTERMASTER CORPS, UNITED STATES ARMY The CHAIRMAN. I wish to say as to those witnesses representing the Government who are asked any questions that they think should be made the subject of executive consideration, that they are at liberty to say that they would prefer to answer in executive session, and the matter will not be pressed further. I realize that there are frequently 1 |