The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-17
LETTERS STOLEN.BY
spy, VIERECK SAYS
Declares That a British Secret
Service Agent Rifled His
Portfolio.
"ALBERT DEAL FAILED"

George Sylvester viereck, editor of the
FdtherIand, the first issue OF which APP
peared Ave days after The European war
started. said yesterday he had heard
that the correspondence between German
officials and others was stolen from a
portfolio belonging to DR.. Albert by a
secret service agent of the British Gov
eminent. He did not say where the agent
found this portfolio.
Mr.. Viereck issued a statement last
night In which he said that the story IN
the New York World 'refutes ITSELF u
that the context OF the. letters of July L
"conclusively proves that no German
official had any control over the policy
OF the Fdtherldnd."
Mr.. Viereck insisted that his paper
was not founded by the German Govern
ment, nor maintained directly or ndi-
rectly by it's aid to the ext t OF a single
dollar or a single subscription.
Paper's Independence Asserted.
The business and editorial policy of
the Fdtheriund," he said, rest entirely
In my hands there Is no arrangement
with any one else yielding even an iota
of its independence.
Each side in this terrible world con-
nict ls seeking the moral support OF this
great nation. The most powerful ma
chinery the world has ever known Tor
reaching and influencing public opinion
liz In the hands OF one of the Contestants
and every effort of the other TO get a
hearing is decried and held u to our
| apprehension. All these show
IL that Germany and the German Amer
cans who want fair play are trying TO
get a hearing against the subterranean
"a I-lt- H. cant ra1 nj
most sources OF news.
I'm the letter OF July 1 Mr.. Albert
makes clear that neither he nor any
one even remotely connected with the
! German Government had any interest
I'm or has exercised any influence what
soever over the policies OF the Father
land. AS a condition OF financial aid
he says we must have an understand
ing regarding the course in policy which
you will pursue. which we have not
/ asked heretofore | absolutely rejected
the conditions suggested by Mr.. Albert
Nicreck's Explanation.
mir. Albert's desire to influence our
policy was not prorEpted by. and must
not be ascribed to. amy improper motive.
He was of the opinion that our atti-
tude was too vigorous. He insisted
as II cOlulUOn OF any support tnat l
refrain from attacking the Admlnistra-
zion and repeatedly objected to my at
titude in that respect.
II told Mr.. Albert that much as
| valued his advice and suggestions
must be guided by my conscience and
Judgment in rhis matter. and declined
10 accede to his requests in that par
ticular. The result was that the ar
rangement outlined In the letter of July
l fell through. That was the only
demand made as a condition OF further
support. and that ] declined. The only
support that my paper has ever re-
ceived has been in the form of SUBJ
scriptions to a very limited extent. The
$3.50. the receipt OF which is acknowl-
edged in my letter, falls under this
head. and is so entered on the books
OF the Fdtherldnd In view of a total
circulation OF 5000 this can hardly
be regarded as very startling.
w have no intention to curry favor
with the Administration at Washington
or with Mr.. Albert's Government in Ber-
lin. Our sole desire is to represent
properly and protect the interests OF
the United States as q neutral nation,
and to he the mouthpiece In the English
language OF American citizens Of Ger
man descent"