PURCHASE OF INTERNED SHIPS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 5

PURCHASE OF INTERNED SHIPS.

AGAINST AMERICAN PUBLIC

OPINION

MIGHT MEAN BREACH OF NEU-

TRALITY

(Received Jan. 27, 8.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Jan. 26

The Democratic opposition to the ! Ship Purchase ■ Bill in .the Senate has ! collapsed. The Caucus decided to support the measure. j M,i- Redfield. secretary to the-De-partment of Commerce, addressing the National Convention of Foreign Trade, said that it had been advertised all over the United States that there would be trouble if the Government bought German ships. The enemies of Germany would regard them as German and they would be declared interned. He added that the United States opinion was strong-, Iy averse to the Government buying ships in toto and handing over, between sis and nine million pounds, which, would mean giving great and direct assistance to one of the belligerents and might readily be construed into a direct breach of neutrality.