The Washington times., 1915-08-24
PALMER ADMITS SHIP .
TALK WITH WILSON
Continued from First Page,

In New York. whom Mr.. stanchneid
represented. Tho line was to carry
non-contraband to neutral ports in
Europe. My conversation with the
president was with regard to the atti-
,ude of the Government with respect
to such commerce to neutral ports and
had nothing whatever to do with the
various matters printed in the World.
thing Which could be twisted ' into ss tho
kind of statement which the World has
printed. ! reported to Mr. Stanchfeld
concerning my talk with the President
and that was the end of It,"
Mr.. Stanchfield refused to discuss
Congressman Palmers statement or
even have 1t read to him.
, But II was admitted thnt the Swedish
government was interested in a plan
for the purchase OF a number or ships
owned by German lines and now held
in American ports as n result of the
war. From Amsterdam came a cable
message to the effect that negotiations
were being carried on In Berlin with
the aim Of buying the ships and that a
company with a capital of $2,n0,0 900 had
been organized.
Hans Lagerof. president Of the scandi-
n;.vian- American Trading Company.
said that the Sweden-American Com
pany, OF which he is a New York rep
resenta tive, is cndenvoring to buy sew
eral of tho Hamburg Amerika Lines
big cargo carriers for the service be-
tween this country. and Gothenburg,
Sweden. The ships which are sought
especially are the Pennsylvania. Bull
Raria and Bohemia.
Sweden needs bottoms on which TO
carry her trade with the United States.
said Mr.. Lagcrof The Swedish Amer
can Company was started about two
years ago. before the war began. for
this purpose. Vessels were built for II
L., pd horolIse Nf tho y
they were never delivered but were
turned to other uses by the British.
Sweden must depend on only six
Scandinavian vessels for her entire
enough. We want to buy coal we use
600 tons a year and we are eager
to get 1t in this country II delivery Is
sure. With a fleet of Swedish ships.
under neutral registry that would be
He was OF the opinion that Great
Britain would offer little opposition to
the change Of registry Of the German
ships. but said that those conducting
the negotiations are anxious TO keep
plan is In any way intended to benefit
Germany BY taking from her at a good
price useless vessels.
1--WE do not forget the Dacia,' he said,
seized and sold for carrying cotton to a
belligerent Our ships will carry only
supplies for Sweden. q neutral country,
The Sweden American Company Is
understood to be largely subsidized by
the Swedish government. The project.
begun before the war was stopped by
the beginning Of hostilities. The pres
ent need Of Sweden has started 1t anew
and 80 per cent Of the total capitalizn :
| ton Of 100000 krcner ($2,5OO COO has
| been subscribed. At the request OF
Gothenburg. the intended terminal city,
| the government has consented to aid
| the enterprise financially. The line. II
| put into operation. will carry pas
! sengers. but its main function will be to
furnish transportation for the food.
stuffs which Sweden, handicapped by
! two years of poor crops and the Grip
pling influences of the war. needs badly.
The Hamburg-America Line has about
twenty-fve ships now held in ports OF
the United States. The majority are in
New York.