New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29
BRYAN ATTACKED
ON SUBMARINE DEAL
PeaceLeader SaysHe Took
Schwab's Word That Neu-
trality Would Be Kept.
SHIPS BUILT HERE;
SENT TO CANADA
Asserts United States Must Pro-
test at Once Against Their
Joining British Fleet.

Secretary Bryan was criticised yes
terday by G. r. Means. head Of the
Peace Propaganda Organization, at the
Hotel Manhattan for relying upon the
word Of Charles NJ. Schwab that the
building Of ten submarines for Eng
lands use in the present war would not
constitute a breach Of neutrality.
Mr.. Means said that when. the Sec
rotary merely took M Schwab's word
he acted wrongly. and should have
looked further into the matter.
There should have been an investi-
cation to learn whether our neutrality
was being violated by the assembling
OF the parts for these vessels at Non
treal. And ] know that the State De-
partmc1t. through It's Secret service
has been hard a. work 20 obtain hrst
hand Information for some time.
lie explained tha. the Fore River
Shipbdildinc Company mad made many
OF the parts and had warned It's en-
ploves TO secrecy.
given out statement on tnc slomaa-
mated that the neutrality laws mad
been Violated pcrs silently. both in let
ter and spirit, by such action. IN part
Il was. .,,
The United States government will
he able 10 tell positively whether all
the essential parts Of the Submarines
have been made in this country by the
interests Nr. Schwab represents. II
Il is proved they have been construct
ed mere and assembled at the Nlckers
Shipbuilding Company IN Montreal ana
that the ten submarines viii soon DC
added TO the English feet in the pro-
rosed attack upon the German, this
government, under the decision Of
William NJ. Evarts, in 1871, viii be
forced 10 protest against allowing
these vessels to be sent 20 ION the
feet while England is at war with a
country at peace with the United
States.
"The vital point is whether all the
essential parts have been made IN TINS
country. If they have not there would
not be breach Of neutrality. MI
Schwab frankly admits that he h'S
sJhlet TO the different United states
manufacturers the making OF the dlI-
ferent parts, but that he has not
broken the neutrality laws, because ne
has taken advantage Of the technical
ity in the Evarts decision. and has not
Rad made all of the essential parts OF
any Of the ten submarines here.
"The question Of these vessels looms
Nd to-day as the biggest problem Pres
ldert Wilson's administration Will have
20 decide and az once. II is the most
vital question that has arisen during
the war"
MIR. Means explained that IL had been
understood by the public that the CON
tracts had been cancelled, but that
this impression had been formed by a
Dublic interview IN which Mr.. SchVab
SAID definite promise had been made
that he would not engage i'm construct
inc submarines for a belligerent ma
ton. This, the peace advocate added,
had been confirmed by Mr.. Bryan.
He pointed out that lawyers had dis
agreed whether the building OF the
craft would break the neutrality laws
some saying il would not, while
others asserted that if the ten sub
marines were allowed to join the Brit
ish feet and fight against Germany
there would be a violation.
"If thew are not allowed TO do this
until after the war. then Mr.. Schwab' 8
contracts for ten additional subma-
rines will be cancelled. The Fore River
company has built large part of the
intricate parts and shipped them in
cases made Of one-inch lumber, TO con-
ceal the contents of the boxes. They
have been classified on the bills of lad
ing as machinery. Other parts have
been made at different plants, all OF
which the United States officials are
familiar with"
1t was also pointed out by Mr.. Means
that the importation Of fortysiX
skilled mechanics from this country
into Canada constituted violation OF
the Dominions labor laws These
men. he said would soon be called
upon to testify under oath 70 the full
knowledge of the work done in Mon
trcal.