The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-21

ply referred to my work r reel that the very openness of the manner in which the letter was given me shows that pr. Dumba had no intention of using me or my passport as shield for the transmission of any improper letters, but, Knowing personally that I was sailing, simply availed himself of having his note delivered direct. Papers in a Safe-Deposft Box. sIast. year, when I went abroad, I was compelled to land at Plymouth, England, when the copper on the ship was seized, and had to proceed through London to Holland. Anttci- pating that it would be embarrassing lat this time to carry any German written letters recommending me to German officials through England, placed most of my papers in the ships safe-deposit box, intending to leave them should it be again neces-i sary to proceed overland through England. I saw no reason, nor do I know now why, because the Rotter- dam called at Falmouth, had not the right to have my German-written papers in my possession or was sub ject to arrest when I was a thorough American passenger on neutral ves- ] sel, with no intention of landing in
 England, or even going ashore
 "I did not consciously break either ' or of any law, but merely did what every traveller crossing the ocean
 does. by carrying notes or small pack ages as an Tnmodation to friends, 1 just as I did when I returned from Germany last year. when carried several letters and official dispatches to our State Department for AInbas-
 sador Gerard and packages for Mrs. Gerard and others. Of course, in do- ing this for Ambassador Gerard, did l it simply as a matter of friendship,
 precisely as I carried the letters in |this case
 q regret the affair, not so much on lmy own account as on account of the
 far-reaching consequences to friends, Iespecially pr. Durnba- The letter to lBaron Burian, whom have known several years. wass as already stated given me so openly that I thought it Irelated merely to my work In the I field. I was in no sense courier l for any belhgerent. and am positive that all concerned will bear out this Istatement.
 My counsel. Frank J. Hogan, Esq, of Washington, has called my atten- ton to an interview autographed from I portion Of the interview is quite cor rect, but the last paragraph has obvi- tously been added and sn1anufa cured out of whole cloth. The sentence add led to the end of the dispatch says:
 @I am the victim of the cunning method of/the Austrian and German l Embassy officials in making me the bearer of an merlin mating document And it quoted me as saying that I had been tricked into carrying this let ter by these officials. As I have never had any reason to suspect any such Ithing, wish emphaticaliy to deny the iuse of any expression of that kind. I I do not think that was the victim of any trickery, nor do I believe that any toftfcial of either embassy acted in any 1sWay except in the best of faith.
 JAMES F,. J. ARCHIBALD.'' Il MT. Archibald, after consulting Mir. I Hogan, consented to tell the story of 1 his sdentention by the British authori- ties and the seizure Of the Dumba let ter and other documents.
 Story of His Detention
 Il 'fW11en5 the Rotterdam arrived at .l lFa1mouth,'' he said. < several British loficia1s came on board and asked ma if was carrying any dispatches to l Germany. I replied that was not
 Then they asked if. had given any document or anything else to the pur-
 ser of the liner, or 70 any other person on the ship to keep for me. As I had not I again replied in the negative I
 was then asked if had a safe denasit
 box on the ship, and when I replied
 q that I had they demanded of me the gt key to the box, which handed over. -Four officials searched the cabinet,
 in which had a large package of let ters, for the most part introductions to persons in Europe, given me for the purpose of facilitating my work Among these letters was the one from Dr. Dumba to Count Burian. They left the ship, taking 'l the letters as we'll as the packages, and the accom- : panying notes for the wives of Coun. von Bernstorff and Prince von Hartz- , feldt.
 = 'In about two hours the officials re- turned to the Rotterdam and told me z I would have to accompany then 7 and considerate. and said I migh bring any part or all of my baggage
 If I desired Although I was subse- s quently locked up, I want to say tha'
 the British authorities treated me witt
 every possible courtesy and considera
 1 ton.
 T only took a handbag with mt when I went ashore. was taken t, , the police station. and detained fo ! about 3S hours, and had 40 spend tn, ' night in a cell, a discomfort that tn, ! authorities later profusely apologfzec : for subjccting me to. When I realized : the position was in teIephoned t, l Ambassador Page in London and als e to Consul General Skinner at Ply 8 mouth, the latter an old persona 3 friend of mine.
 t After about 36 hours an orde f came from London ordering my i'm y mediate release. member the i'm y mediate part of it because one of tn e officers commented upon that pi1as t of the order. The order was that [. should proceed to Ramsgate, wher e the Admiralty was holding the Rot n terdam for me and to facilitate f s every way possible my journey to tn : place of standardization. On m e arrival at Ramsgate a naval launc : under command of an officer of tn : Naval Reserve was waiting for me an I was taken to the Rotterdam, w1aic ], was anchored about an hour out fror