The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-21

| Receivers Self-Posscssion.
A change appeared to come over
Mr.. Archibald after his talk with MIR.
Hogan. To those who boarded the
! Rotterdam at Quarantine he appeared
to be very much in doubt as to what
was going to happen. He was nettled
by every question. He was so ex-
cited that he forgot to see that Mrs.
Archibald got off the ship in Hoboken
and fused with his baggage like
man who had never crossed the ocean
/ before. But when he gave out his
statement in the afternoon he was
himself again. All signs Of nervous
ness had disappeared and he answer
ed questions with his accustomed air
of suavity. He. did not always know
Just what questions to answer, but
once Mr.. Hogan gave him the mood he
went straight ahead with whatever he
had to say. He refused to pose for
his picture, however. on the ground
that he wished no one to belive that
he didn't take his situation seriously.
Archibalds Statement
| Here is Archibald's statement:
! When | arrived in America this
morning I had practically no infor-
nation regarding the unfortunate af-
fair involved in the sending by the
Austrian Ambassador to the minister
Of foreign affairs of his country a
letter by me, and hence I refrained
from making any statement until
Icouid become at least slightly
acquainted with what has been said
in this country.
/ now make this simple statement
of the true facts Of the case.
One thing / wish to state emphatic
ally, and that Is I was in no sense
dispatch bearer" for any one, but
! what did was done merely as an
accommodation TO friends. Natural
ly. before leaving for belligerent ter
ritory to do field work with armies
engaged in the war. / sought proper
letters of Introduction and recon-
mendation. and the day before ! sailed
several such letter were sent to my
hotel. These letters were mostly in
German. and as / am not proficient in
reading that language, l did not seek
to translate them. With the exception
OF a couple of notes accompanying
triflng gifts Of personal nature. I
supposed that all these letters were in
relation to my work and. in fact,
; did not know. nor do I now know,
anything of their contents. That some
of them were sealed did not occasion
I any surprise. as official letters of in
. PRODUCTION are frequently delivered
sealed. I read only one letter in par
liCuidT WHlch hau asked fTlHCS
} Hazfeldt to have written for me, and
! in fact ] myself suggested, almost
word for word, it's contents. Feeling
, that there might he a strong anti
, American sentiment in Germany, and
, not knowing to what extent that might
inconvenience those travelling with me
asked Prince Hatzfeldt to prepare
an open letter. stating that was
; friendly to their cause. This was
- l.. ,
j. could be read In a moment in case
Of necessity. and intended to be used
only in the event we were subjected
To any local hostile demonstration.
I There were few letters to officials.
but these /. Of course. had not ex-
I amined.
Not Done Under Cover.
DR.. Dumba's letter was given to me
openly at the last moment. on the
: dock, at the foot Of the steamer S
gangplank, just before sailing Hun
dreds of persons were about and
, there was not the slightest suggestion
. of secrecy. OF its contents 1 had abb
r solutely no knowledge. 1t was In a
small. sealed envelope. without spe-
> cial seal. however. and owing to the
! open manner in which ii was publicly
J, handed me l supposed, Of course, that
r 1t simply referred to my work..
Y feel that the very openness of the
{ manner in which the letter was given
, me shows that DIR. Dumba had no in
), t~ntion of using me or my passports
as a shield for the transmission of
, any improper letter. but learning per-
, sonally that was sailing. awaited him.
self Of the opportunity Of having his
note delivered personally.
Last year when went abroad ! was
compelled to land at Plymouth, Eng
, land, when the copper on the ship
! was seized and had to proceed through
|, London TO Holland. Anticipating that
II would be embarrassing at this time
to carry any German written letters
recommending me to oficials. placed
!, most Of my papers in the ships SAT
deposit box. intending to leave them
should It DO again necessary to pro-
coed overland through England. I
saw no reason, nor do / know now
: why. because the Rotterdam called at
Falmouth. had not tho right to have
any German written papers In my
j possession. or was subject 10 arrest
! when was a through American pas
senger on q neutral vessel with no In
, tentien Of landing in England or even
+ go.ng ashore ,-- -
4 Did Net Intentionally nreak law.
did not Intentionally break either
J the spirit or the letter OF my pass
port. or Of any law but merely did