Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing
Title
Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing
Creator
Stovall, Pleasant A., 1857-1935
Identifier
WWP25019
Date
1917 May 15
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
GREEN
Berne,
Dated May 15, 1917.
Rec’d May 16, 9 a.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
914, May 15, 4 pm
May 891, May 10, 6 pm Mr. Hans Sulzer is a high-class man and comes from an old and conservative family of machinery manufactures. The works at Winterthur are a century old. Hans Sulzer is said to be one of the few Swiss pro-Ally sympathies in that section. But the high character of the man seems to render such explanation superfluous, his neighbors say. This factory has supplied the Entente with more supplies than it has sold to the Central Powers in spire of its nearness to Germany. The firm of Sulzer Brothers was interested long before the war in a factory at Ludwigshafen, Germany, but declares that its present connection with that industry is purely nominal. The plant of that factory in section of Germany where sub-marines are fashioned may present embarrassing situations which I have explained to Foreign Office. Sulzer offers to resign the nominal connection with German branch which is very small compared to his great Swiss factory and which branch his family has preserved as a tradition rather than an asset. Sulzer Brothers at Winterthur furnish most of supplies for Swiss Army. Hans Sulzer speaks English, has been in America, is very wealthy, and is said to be our good friend.
Stovall.
Berne,
Dated May 15, 1917.
Rec’d May 16, 9 a.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
914, May 15, 4 pm
May 891, May 10, 6 pm Mr. Hans Sulzer is a high-class man and comes from an old and conservative family of machinery manufactures. The works at Winterthur are a century old. Hans Sulzer is said to be one of the few Swiss pro-Ally sympathies in that section. But the high character of the man seems to render such explanation superfluous, his neighbors say. This factory has supplied the Entente with more supplies than it has sold to the Central Powers in spire of its nearness to Germany. The firm of Sulzer Brothers was interested long before the war in a factory at Ludwigshafen, Germany, but declares that its present connection with that industry is purely nominal. The plant of that factory in section of Germany where sub-marines are fashioned may present embarrassing situations which I have explained to Foreign Office. Sulzer offers to resign the nominal connection with German branch which is very small compared to his great Swiss factory and which branch his family has preserved as a tradition rather than an asset. Sulzer Brothers at Winterthur furnish most of supplies for Swiss Army. Hans Sulzer speaks English, has been in America, is very wealthy, and is said to be our good friend.
Stovall.
Original Format
Letter
To
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Files
Collection
Citation
Stovall, Pleasant A., 1857-1935, “Pleasant A. Stovall to Robert Lansing,” 1917 May 15, WWP25019, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.