The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-21
DENIES
 ANY |NTENT|ON0F
 GIVING DEFENSE
American Correspondent Who Carried Dumba's Letter Says He Was
 Unaware of Contents

New York. September o--Jafnes F. J. Archibald, the American correspondent who carried letter from pr. Constantin T. Dumba. Austro- Hungarian ambassador at Washington, addressed to the Austrian foreign minister. which led to request from the United States for the ambassa- dor's recall, issued statement here to- day, denying that he had connived to break the neutrality laws of the United States or was an official dispatch bearer.
 The letter was seized by British author ities when Archibald was intercepted al Falmouth.
 On his return here today aboard the steamship Rotterdam, Archibald declined to discuss the affair until he had con- suited his lawyer and had acquainted him. self. as he explained, with what had been said in this country.''
 "Dr. Dumbas letter." said Archibald < statement, was given to me most openly at the steamers gang plank just before sailing Hundreds of persons were about and there was not the slightest sugges- tion of secrecy. Of its contents l had ab- solutely no knowledge. I supposed, of course. that 1t simply referred to my work I feel that the very open manner in which the letter was given me shows that Dr. Dumba had no intention of using me or my passport as a shield for the transmission of any improper letters.
 Only Matter of Accommodation
 T did not consciously break either the spirit or the letter of my passport or of any law. but merely did what every trav- eler crossing the ocean does, by carrying notes or small packages as an accommo- dation to friends, just as I did when returned from Germany last year, when carried several letters and official dis patches to our state department for Am ba ssador Gerard and packages for Mrs. Gerard and others. Of course. in doing this for Ambassador and Mrs. Gerard, did it simply as a matter of friendship, precisely as carried the letters in this case"
 Archibald stated that before leaving for belligerent territory Ito do field work with armies engaged in the war he sought letters of introduction and recom- mendation. These letters, most of which were written in German he said. were delivered to him at bis hotel in. New York. s..4 -...i...,A.,... ....5s.s
 Feeling that there might. be strong anti-American sentiment in Germany
 
 what that might inconvenience those travelling with me, asked Prince Hatz- feldt to prepare me an open letter stat ing that was friendly to their cause. ''s
 According to Archibald, he suggested, almost word for word. the letter Prince Hatzfeldt wrote, which, he said. he. 'in- tended to. use only in the event we were subjected to any local hostile demonstra- tion." .-.
 Archibald asserted he did not know the contents of the other letters. Ambassador Dumba's letter, he said, was delivered to him at the steamer by the amhassa : dor's secretary, while the packages he carried for Count Won Bernstorm. the German ambassador. and Capt Won Pa pen, Germany's military attache at Wash ington, were delivered at his hotel.
 Secret service men who interviewed him aboard the Rotterdam at quarantine ac- cording to Archibald, merely asked if he had been presented with a gold headed cane or had been asked to deliver cane to any one in Europe before his depar- ture Upon his assurance he said, that he had not. the officers asked no further questions.