Word: flint
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Problem. Hardheaded diplomats deplored the rocketing headlines over the case of City of Flint. U. S. diplomatic history is crammed with such cases; the U. S. has an impressive record of skill in litigation over them. The likelihood that the future will see more important issues made it desirable that this one should be kept in perspective. Quickly Government spokesmen made cold and quiet statements: although the U. S. position was that City of Flint's, voyage was legal, Germany acted according to international law in seizing the ship, putting a prize crew aboard, declaring the cargo contraband. True...
That was 23 years ago. Last week, into Kola Bay, north of the Russian harbor of Murmansk, the U. S. freighter City of Flint dropped anchor and thereby posed for Russia a far less crucial test of its neutrality, the skill of its diplomats, the wisdom of its foreign policy. City of Flint was flying the German flag. It carried a German prize crew. Dramatic was the story of its seizure and flight. But last week the swift routine moves of the Russian Foreign Commissariat, the swift routine countermoves of the U. S. State Department, unexpectedly turned into something bigger...
Precedent. Last week, when Germany embarrassed Russia by anchoring City of Flint at Murmansk, the U. S. State Department moved with calm deliberation. It asked its officials in Oslo, Moscow and Berlin for information. Alexander Kirk, chargé d'affaires in Berlin, made informal inquiries, reported the German claim that inadequate charts had forced the City of Flint to take refuge at Murmansk. What Germany demanded of Russia was not known. What the U. S. wanted was clear: it wanted information about the whereabouts and welfare of the crew. Coupled with U. S. playing down of the case, that...
Procedure. Russia's position was beginning to look embarrassing. Plain fact was that, as soon as City of Flint sailed under the German flag, it risked capture by British warships, faced at the minimum a 1,300-mile voyage through blockaded waters, at least 50 miles of known mine fields, to reach a German port. Equally plain was it that, if Russia permitted the ship to remain in port, she violated international law, that if she released it to her U. S. owner (as the U. S., after a Supreme Court decision, eventually released the Appam), she would antagonize...
...third day of City of Flint's stay, Ambassador Steinhardt, armed with new instructions from Washington, talked over the case with Foreign Commissariat officials. Hour and a half later the Soviet radio announced that Russia was releasing the ship on condition that she leave Murmansk at once. Next day Ambassador Steinhardt slapped down his trumps. With an indignation compatible with the strength of his position, he: > Accused the SovietGovernment of refusing to cooperate in providing information...