Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
|0slTION0F GOVERNMENT
| ON SUBMARINE BUILDING
|'ryan Gives Steel Company Official
Views on Contracts for Bel
llgeront Nations.
TILL UNDER CONSIDERATION
Pfsit of CHARLES NJ. Schwab, Reveals
That State Department Takes Cog
nlzance OF Report Concerning Sup
plies for Warning Nations.

WASHINGTON. December 2-,rhe
United States government to-day for
nally Inquired OF the bethlehem Steel
company IL the firm intended to con-
truct submarines for use by European
'elligerents.
Sharles 81. Schwab. president OF the
company. and other officials OF the con-
;ern. explained orally, their position,
md agreed to submit It In writing in
1ew days. In the meantime. neither
hey nor the State Department Of
'eials would disclose tho extent OF the
ompany's activities.
The question under consideration Is
iow-far American firms may go in the
nanufacture OF materials for use in
nc construction of war craft without
rotating United States neutrality laws.
Mr.. Bryan to-day invited Charles NJ
Schwab, president of the Bethlehem
Steel Company. to tho state. Depart
nent, and gave him tho views of tho
american government on tho building
submarines in this country for Euro
lean beliigerents.
Mr.. Bryan declined to say what the
position of tho American government
vas. He declared tho question was not
et concluded. but "under considera-
lon" Mr.. Schwab. accompanied by
wo assistants. also refused to dis
;uss their mission.
lr Sahwab came" said AIR. Bryan,
IN response to our inquiry concerns
ne tho manufacture In this country
% ships or material for ship building"
Recent reports that the Bethlehem
bteel Company had contracted to build
8C6mArinnq NJ ,,1J H. uA
eoroad In sections. have been variously
}ienied and partially confirmed.
The visit OF Mr.. Schwab, however,
cvcaicd that the State Department had
AIKEN ottcial cognizancc OF the sub
fect, although Secretary bryan an
,ouneed yesterday that government
agents. after n thorough, investigation,
?>ad been unable to learn that any
york was being done anywhere in this
fountry In the construction OF foreign
9%arships or parts thereof.
IL was believed, however, that tho
state Department desired to consult
with the steel company officer so there
you'd be no violation Of neutrality ~
contracts were taken. While the <cx-
port OF munitions of war. such az guns
fhells or ammunition, Is not prohibited
by the neutrality laws. the hitting out
llf warshlps or any armed expedition.
from American soil would DC consid-
bred a violation.
| During the Russo ia pancse war.
'owever, an American FIRM built the
parts OF several submarines. consigned
Yhem 20 Its own agency in Russia, and
fhen sold them to the Russian gov
9ernment. Although the transaction
Fwas kept secret Until the shipment waa
concluded. 1t was generally held at
dthat time that no law had been yio-
Hated.
Mr.. Schwab recently returned from
Europe, where he visited Germany ana
[England. On his return 1t was said he
6,rought contracts for many mi ion dol.
pars' worth OF wnr suppiies with the
|british government. II WAS suggested
To-day that; he might also have dis
fcussed that feature with Secretary
Bryan.
American manufacturers OF motor
trucks have recently heen making ex-
Ih!bltion tests at Mr.. Schwab's Bethle-
Hem plant, and 1t has been reported
that several hundred motors for mill
|tary use were being bought by Mr..
|Schwab's company for the allies.