The Washington times., 1915-06-16

may feel called upon to make formal
Representations to the German foreign
effice for a change OF Ambassadors
Presence Not Known.
As far as the State Department is
concerned, the presence of DR.. Alfred
Meyer In this country was never
known. The War Department. though
apprised of the efforts of one Mrs.
Selma Lewis, q broker In war supplies
and now alleged to have been Meyers
Krag -Jorgensens of the United States
army. likewise, according to Secre-
tary Of War Garrison. never knew of
the activities of Meyer.
authorities Of this country, the aliega-
tion that Meyer was returning to
Germany with important data regard
ing the military resources OF the
United States was of profound inter-
est.
The extent to which President Will
son himself was made the victim or
the ruse 20 get Meyer back to Ger.
many is indicated in the charge that
Count Won Bernstorff made arrange
rnents for Meyers return on the basis
OF his personal interview with the
President following the receipt OF Ger.
'many's first. reply to the demands OF
the United States in connection with
the Lusitania affair
Reason For Interview.
II was explained at the time that the
ambassador sought the audience with
the President for the purpose OF OBJ
tanning from the latter q more init
mate knowledge Of the Administrator 8
attitude regarding Germany's sub
At.-A ,H to
interview Bernstorff. for the purpose Of
trying to effect a peaceful settlement,
was to send a lengthy report of the
interview to the German foreign Office
Il gssn BY RED F eoss Msysr
the United States.
las recall t." said Acting. Secretary
of state Lansing today, "a letter was
it may concern and at the request of
the German ambassador, stating that
DR.. Meyer Gerhard, who had been In
s eTos e. o rstn to Of
Further than this Mr.. Lansing would
make no comment for publication.
quest of the ambassador for safe con-
duct for Gerhard was put up to the
British and French ambassadors by Mr.:
a nS h9 that While then Sev d aa eSe
any written guarantees as they had in
the case of DR.. Dernburg. they gave
verbal assurances to Mr. Bryan that
Gerhard would not be molested on his
return.
Use Clever Ruse.
Although varying somewhat as to de.
tails, the stories printed today in the
New York Times and New York Tri.
bune agree in the statement that Count
Won Bernstorff. in arranging with the
President and the State Department to
, send DR.. Meyer Gerhard back to Berlin
as q bearer OF important communica.
tions to the German foreign office from
cerned with getting back to Germany
DIR. Alfred Meyer. privy councillor Of
the German government and chief OF
the German army's supply division.
the ambassador succeeded
clever ruse which duped the
Secretary of State Bryan
British and French ambas
the United States.
ing to The New York Tribune
himself was none other thar
Ter. wearing a wig and golc
glasses ssd t. to. disgHlss T;ibsne his sr,ss Fes
alleges that the bogus Dr. Gerhard
though perhaps the bearer of importan
dispatches from the embassy here, re
lating to the ambassador's recent in
likewise the bearer Of important dat
concerning the military resources of tn
United States and the preparedness. o
Jack of preparedness. Of this countr.
for war.
Both Reports Agree.
The New York Times. on the othe
hand. states that DR.. Gerhard actual
returned to Germany under the assur
ance Of safe conduct obtained for hir
by the State Department from the Brit
ish and French ambassadors, but tina
with him, in the role Of an humble sec
rotary. went DR.. Meyer.
Both reports agree in stating that tn
privy councillor during his sojourn 1
the United States was actively engage
tary secrets of the United States, bu
was endeavoring to purchase war SUI
plies to be smuggled into Germany VI
der neutral cargoes in neutral ships.
BY offering higher prices. he is said I
have actually obtained cartridges an
other supplies being made for Gel
nnany's enemies, and he is reported
have made unsuccessful efforts to pul
chase the $50 900 cast-off Krag-Johgei
ser rifles Of the United States army:
The expose is alleged to have bee
made possible through the activities I
Mrs. Selma Lewis. fascinating b,
astute broker in war supplies, and OF
DR.. Carl Schimel. both of whom a,
active assistants of the privy councilo
Called Serious Charge.
The story records an agreement el
tered into between DR.. Meyer and
Mrs. Selma Lewis, a war broker
whereby the German agent contract'
for purchase of Krag~Jorgensen riff
discarded by the United States Cover
ment and relates how attempts we
made to influence the war departme
to sell these arms.
II was in pursuance Of this plan
have the Government release the rife
the Tribune asserts. that Mrs Lew
got in touch with two other munitic
agents who hoped to be able to obta
influence, the Tribune says, throue
Malcolm McAdoo, brother to the Seer
tary of the Treasury. The story all
asserts that Mrs. Lewis got form
Comptroller Herman A. Metz, of Ne
York. to make a trip to Washingt'
and sound out" Secretary Bryan
the sale of the Krags.
Garrison's Explanation.
So far as the question Of identity w
concerned, Secretary Of War Garris
could throw no light on the Ant
Observation-Disclosures Meyer case, b
he did comment on the Krag ri