The State Department today officially announced the release of two former U.S. Navy vessels turned over to Egypt as “commercial” vessels. The former American fighting ships, “Papua” and “Tobago,” manned by Egyptian Royal Navy crews, were told that they could sail at will.
Representations against clearance of the ships’ transfer to Egypt were made by Sen. Herbert H. Lehman, it was learned today. Sen. Lehman also called the attention of Senators to the transfer of American vessels to Egypt and entered evidence in the Congressional Record indicating that the frigates are not intended for “commercial” use. He said:
“Although it was claimed that the ships were to be used for passenger service, they have no passenger capacity except for crowded quarters for the crews and the superstructures of the ships show a number of gun mounts and ammunition bins and depth charge racks.
“The ships were reconditioned at an estimated cost of $75,000. It should be remembered that these ships are destined for the Middle East, where the Arab League is restive, and where a peace between the Arab states and Israel has not yet been written,” Sen. Lehman pointed out.
The state Department said it was satisfied that the ships would be used for “commercial purposes only.” An inspection was made, following the disclosure by the press of the transfer of the ships and it was found that “they were demilitarized according to navy specifications which the State Department concurred in,” the Department claimed.
Washington sources were puzzled by the clearance as the ships were inspected by reporters who saw gun stands, depth charge stands, and found that the vessels were obviously fighting craft which can easily be re-gunned for battle. The State Department denied these press reports, admitting however, that “there were some reinforced places on the deck for the mounting of guns.”
Meanwhile, British reports have been quoted here which acknowledge the transfer by Britain to Egypt of ships of the exact type and nomenclature–“frigates.” These ships were considered by the British Admiralty as ideal for the Egyptian Navy. It is believed that the ships turned over to Egypt by Britain were built in the same American shipyard which turned out the “Papua” and “Tobago.”
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