New Britain herald., 1915-12-17


 ed States he is still accredited to Mex ico, and has the full right to go there. But both President Wilson and Sec retary Lansing are confident that if Captain von Papen reaches Mexico his whole activities will be directed toward fomenting revolution which was one of the primary purpose for which Captain Lieutenant Franz Rim telen, the Kaiser's secret high com missioner, came to this country. Captain von Papen, with plenty of money at his command could drag the United States in very quickly.
 The only way that Captain von Pa i pen may be kept out of Mexico is for such influence to be brought to bear , upon Venustiano CarranZa to have the Mexican executive request of the Kaiser that he recall Captain von , Papen before he starts for Mexico. But such request would em barass Carranza, whose government also Is on. friendly terms with Germany. Make Confusion Worse. The Washington officials are certain that the military attache has designed a flight to Mexico and that his mys- terious announcements of dates CT probable going from this country on" ly make the confusion worse.
 Captain Karl Boy-Ed, the recalled naval attache, has made it perfectly clear to all his friends that he in- tends to go to Germany.
 Sudden September Journey.
 It was learned yesterday that the secret agents of this country and of the Allies became much alarmed last September at the peculiar activities of Captain von Papen. He made a sudden journey out to Chicago, themes to San Francisco, St. Louis and other cities. He was followed by Secret Service men but left a hotel in Chi cago so uncremoniously early one morning that they lost track of him. It was feared then that he had some purpose of jumping across the border but that the scrutiny then over him scared him off.
 While various statements have been given out that both Captain von Pa pen and Captain Boy-Ed will leave here on Tuesday next, and then again on December 28, it has become known that neither has taken any steps to receive the safe conducts which Great Britain and France have promised to grant.
 Next Move From Attaches.
 The state department having noti- fled both officers that their safe con- duct are at hand, the next move must come from the attaches. They have given no indication of what they in- tend to do. Their letters of safe con- duct will not be handed to them until they notify the state department of the time, place and ship aboard which they intend to embark. Meanwhile, they already have been stripped of their official status in this country
 Captain Won Papen's activities in Mexican affairs have already been con- sidered by the department of justice Agents have traced scheme to pur- chase ships in California and outfit them for service in Mexico. Captain Won Papen has spent much time on the California coast as well as in Mex ico. It is said that he already has made arrangements for successor here to continue his work.
 Both Attend Opera.
 Both Captain Boy-Ed and he ap peared at the Metropolitan Opera house last night for the first time in public since they have been stripped of their official powers. They occu- pied box No. 43 with Hans Tauscher, husband of Mme. Gadski, and an arms agent who has sold munitions and arms to Mexico.
 '. In the next box No. A, was Captain Polak of the Kronprinzessin Ceclle, who came down from Boston with party of friends. It was like family reunion and all evening friends poured into the two boxes to talk with the discredited attaches. The whole party retired to the Opera club where they exchanged wishes for the best ln- terests of Germany
 A man in this city thoroughly con- versant with Mexican affairs said Cap tain Won Papen could cause endless trouble in Mexico by engineering revolution against Carranza or by aiding General Villa, General Zapata or any of the political and personal enemies of the de facto government.
 Would Be Welcomed.
 ''The German colony is an import ant one in Mexico City, he said, and Captain Won Papen doubtless would be welcomed by the Germans there. In view of the fact that Germany has not recognized Carranza, Captain Won Pa pen would have no official standing be- fore the Mexican government. There would be nothing to keep him out of Mexico private citizen If his ac- tivities were directed against the exist ing government he could be expelled under article 33, of the Mexican con- stitution, relating to pernicious for eigners. That would be the only legal way he could be got out of the coun- try.
 "Carranza, of course, has many en- emies who would listen to any man who had a way to overthrow the gov- ernment. Men to head a revolution are easy to find there and in all the