Tanker Rancor

The new, 13,000-ton tanker Apsheron neared her home port of Odessa this week, leaving a frothing wake of hard words and hurt feelings.

In 1949, Russia furnished Danish shipbuilders with materials to build two $3,000,000 tankers. That was two years before Congress passed the Battle Act, which empowers the President to cut off U.S. aid to countries caught sending strategic materials behind the Iron Curtain. The tanker deal was no secret, but not until last month did the U.S. protest officially, hinting strongly that aid to Denmark might vanish with the Apsheron.

Sorry, answered Foreign Minister Ole Bjoern Kraft, supported by the cabinet and all of Denmark's anti-Communist parties: a contract is a contract; Denmark must deliver the Apsheron now and her twin in late 1953. At week's end it looked as if the U.S. would have to give in. Ready for President Truman's decision was a recommendation by Mutual Security Administrator Averell Harriman that the U.S. continue its economic aid ($20 million last fiscal year) to the Danes, in spite of the Battle Act. But the U.S. hopes to talk Denmark out of delivering the second tanker.

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