The “Cheng Ho”

Claim For Possession Of

IT is expected that there will be interesting developments in the Cheng Ho case in July (see May

Pim, P. 20).

The once-famous luxury junk Cheng Ho is now, and has been for some years, in the possession of Cap tain Eric de Bisschop, colourful French navigator, of Tahiti.

Mr. Otto Degener, of Honolulu, claims ultimate ownership of the yacht. He says he leased it to de Bisschop, with a clear provision that he could resume possession in July, 1952.

De Bisschop has been in French Oceania for some time, and has re gistered the junk in Papeete, in his own name.

Degener decided that he would go to Papeete, and prosecute his claim in the French courts there. He gave Mr. Oscar Nordman his power of attorney, and they engaged the ser vices of a French lawyer, Maitre Lejeune.

But when Degener sought a pass port visa for Tahiti, the French Con sul in San Francisco refused it.

Fhereanent, a strange story is told.

The Governor of Tahiti, M. 3 etitbon, was much disturbed by the ;tory about the passport visa. It is eported that he has taken certain iction. Meanwhile, Degener went o Washington in June, demanding hat he be given permission to go to Tahiti.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nordman and daitre Lejeune, as Mr. Degener’s epresentatives, have initiated pro

ceedings against Captain De Bisschop, claiming that the Cheng Ho must be handed over to them on July 7.

Gordon Edgell & Sons, Ltd., Australian food packers, in a recent interim report, state that although business with Pacific Islands was still good, it was difficult, because of rising Australian costs, to export to other countries.