862.85/1214½: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 14—8:23 a.m.]
1541. B–200. For the Department and Davis.
Maritime representatives are recommending to Department [Commission?] agreement [proposing] to entrust sale to Lord Inchcape, who acted for British Government in sales standard ships constructed on Government commission method [during war,] for selling British [German] ships to British nationals for the purpose of carrying out provisions Spa inter-Allied [agreement]. Inchcape evidently man high standing, sees no objection to proposal published here. Reparation Commission follows provisions Spa agreement. Unless otherwise instructed I shall take position that we have no objection to any method of sale which interested powers see fit to recommend but that we decline absolutely to approve this method of valuation of ships for trade [treaty] purposes and shall regard results of sale merely as evidence which may or may not have some bearing on the question of valuation under treaty. Boyden.