The Washington herald., 1915-09-26

l
this morning prints the following:
/ Thomas St. John Gaffney. United
States Consul General at Munich. Ger
many, has attracted much unfavor-
able criticism concerning his conduct
\ of his office since hostilities started in
Europe 1t has been asserted that Mr.
IGaffney has permitted his strong teei-
ings against the English to sway him
| in his actions at a time when he not
only had charge OF anairs 1or ,nis
government, but for Great Britain.
The State Department. it was learned
| Yesterday. has taken cognizance OF
| the complaints made by certain indi-
viduals against Mr.. Gaffney. and 1t is
felt by meE in high official circles In
Washington that Mr.. Gaffney has been
Extremely impolitic at time when II
was better for the government OF this
country that he should make the
greatest effort to be neutral
| Through the allegations against Mr..
CARNEY a remarkable revelation is
made. Letters have been sent to him
! by an officer OF an Irish organization
| in this city by way OF the Austro-
Hungarian Consulate here. 1t is re-
markable that this was possible, when
Count Won Bernstorn and DIR. Dumba
have been continually protesting that
they could not get into proper COM
munica ton with their respective gov
ernments.
The German and Austro- Hungarian
Amba ssad dors have told President Will
son that they were practically cut OF
from their respective foreign off1ces.
a, a time when a casual Americal was
able to request that letter addressed
| TO Mr. Gaffney be sent to Munich.
through the medium of the consulate
of the dual empire.
Forwarded from COnsu1's once.
Moreover. through copies OF letters in
the possession of the Herald. 1t Is learned
that the correspondence from the Ameri-
can citizen to Mr.. Gaffney had been for
! warded by the persons in the Austrian
consurs office There seemed to be no
difficulty about the delivery Of a missive
written by Denis A. Spellissy. Mr. Spell
lissy, incidentally. is treasurer OF the
American committee of the Irish Ma
, tional Volunteers. and for many years
has known Mr.. Gaffney. Mr.. Speilissy
has a law office at No. 2o6 Broadway.
He just wanted letter sent. and ap-
parently did not wish 1t to go through
the usual channels, though why ne dld
not is still a mystery.
Since the beginning OF the war the
State Department has maintained spe-
cal pouch service to the consulates in
Germany. Mail thus sent to officials of
the United States is not subjected to
censorship by the Germans. Mr.. Spell
lissy if he wanted to communicate with
Mr.. Gaffney. could easily have sent the
letter by this means. But the letter
might have been read by the State De-
partment. Also the missive might have
been read at the American Embassy in
Berlin. All mail from belligerent coun-
tries to private persons in the United
States and forwarded through consuls is
read at the State Department. However,
in a letter dated August u. 1915, Mr.
Spellissy sent this missive to Ludwig Won
Kleinwaechter. No. "a State street:
Dear Sir-I am very desirous OF get
ting the enclosed letter delivered to Mr.
Gaffney. our consul at Munich.
May | ask your aid in doing So as I
find no other means of getting it TO him."
Yours faithfully.
denis A. SPELLISSY.
Per NJ. s. Confidential Secretary
No Difficulty in Comm unication.
Eight days afterward this note was re-
ccived by Mr. SpclIissy from n person in
the Austro-Hungarian consul's office:
In reply to your favor of the 18th in
slant. addressed to DIR. Ludwig Won Klein
waechter. l beg to say that / have for
warded the enclosure to Mr.. Gafrney.
Believe me. dear sir,
Yours very truly,
For the l. and r. Consul General
Hence it is shown that the Austrians
here had no great difficulty in getting
their communications to Germans.
Mr.. Spellissy lives at 104 West Forty
eighth street. He was dining when l ar
rived there and after a wait of a few
minutes the treasurer of the American
Committee of Irish National Volunteers
mounted the stairs from the basement
He lighted the gas and settled back in an
armchair.
Are you in the habit of sending much
mail to Germany for your organization?
he was asked.
NO" responded Mr.. Spellissy
Have you not an agent for the society
there?''