The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-20

DR.. Heinrich r. Albert, Imperial Ger I
man Privy Councillor, issued q state
ment yesterday which purports to be a
complete reply to the charges In regard
to a secret German propaganda In the
United States.
DR.. Albert says the purchase OF am
munition plants In this country Is justi-
fable, argues for an embargo on arms
and ammunition. charges Great Britain
with piracy on the high seas. denies That
the German Government financed the
Fdthcrland inc asserts that the German
Government has not started any under
cover newspaper campaign In this
country.
DR.. Albert's statement follows:
"In view of the wide publicity that
has been given the documents ana
memoranda that were stolen from me.
and the whole false and unwarranted
deductions that are sought to be drawn
from them, as evidenced by news com
ments and editorials, i have concluded,
I'm Justice to the public and to the cause
l represent. as well as to myself 10
present "A brief summary OF the facts:
at is Inevitable that all sorts OF wild
and irresponsible offers. proposals and
sugyestions should be addressed from
every conceivable quarter to one holding
the official position In which l am placed
"a an accredited agent of one OF the
great nations engaged IN 'his uh-
fortunate worldwide war. That ~ the
character OF most of the documents
that were contained In the PORTFOLIO 'ha'
was distracted from me.
Takes Up strike Feature.
The published letter from a Mr..
NcLane to the effect that MI. McLane
has a plan for precipitaAing a strike OF
automobile workers and that a STRIKE
could be brought about in the munitions
factories OF Detroit. Cleveland and en-
cinnati for about $4,000 IL a fair IL
lustration of the worthless sort OF JUNK
on which the representatives OF my
country are charged with conspiIihs
against he Industrial peace OF inns
community and are sought 10 De hoiu w
To public Reproduction.
Letters and documents OF this sort
from strangers with whom We nave hau
no dealings or communications anu
whose very Identity Is unknown 10 u.s.
are paraded under binding headlines as
though they constituted evidence OF a.
tual transactions with US or were mat
tiers OF which We were toBhi@a'N 49,
which we are responsible.
as IL anywhere suggested mat thr
slightest attention was ever paid TO that
or any other letter OF like import or
that $50. 900 or SO cents was ever paid
or agreed TO be paid upo any such en-
terprlse? Yet Il is upon that sort
OF evidence and that alone that We
find one of our leading
papers e~ditorially INDUCES in the I'M
speakably false and reckless charge
against the accredited agent of a friendly
Government with buying strikes and IN
Justrial turmoil, melting sedition against
the Government aud organizing treason
SIT seems that every crank VINO
chooses to write a letter containing any
sort of wild or disreputable pos
has the power to make his RIDICULOUS
proposals the basis of charging me with
disloyalty TO the country whose protec-
ton and hospitality | enjoy and deeply
appreciate II which | have In no way
abused or infringeo.
81 have, however, lived here long
enough to have learned that although
YOUR people are at times disposed TO
iump to hasty conclusions on insufiici-
ent evidence there Is too u OF the
spirit OF fair play among them TO per-
init OF your forming your 1nal Judg-
ments on such manifestly false and
: slender premises. when your attention
is called to the facts. II IL because OF
that conviction that ! take the liberty OF
pointing out the nlmsy and unreliable
= character Of these publications and OF
3 the implied accusations on which they
J are based.
piracy Charged TO Britain.
They. may be ranged under fouI
: heads:
| ~. II is said that the documents
: indicate that the German Government
| has been engaged in the purchase OF
munitions factories and war materials
while at the same time II or Its ally hal
been insisting upon and supporting g
; propaganda in favor Of an embargo b,
this country against the expectation o.
r arms and ammunition. This Is charged
e TO be an Inconsistent attitude and al
z evidence of bad faith.
r IL insist that IL is capable ~ no sucl
3 construction and that the two position
are entirely consistent. although in poin
h OF fact there has been as yet no pur
n chase made. contracted for or arrange
OF any munition or other factory an
q none IL In contemplation.
< while Germany and Hun
gary had hoped that there would be sue
y an embargo, and ave been eXpectin
that the action of Great Britain /
Selling control OF the seas against neu
u tral countries, and IN destroying neutra
in violation OF internationa
law, would result in prompt reprisals q
that character. we have still considere
i II our right and duty. While Great Brit
81 ain continues its piracy on the high seat
q to endeavor to protect ourselves agains
L. this course of International brigandag
- by stopping the expectation of war ma
n terials to the Allies wherever IL can b
y ACCOMPLISHED, whether by our purchas
u of factories or of war materials, eve
though we are not In a position at tn
time to make further use of them in on
own defence.
II am unable to understand on wha
theory our action in that directio
y" should be the subject OF criticism. If "
had the means and the opportunity "
would buy every munitions factory
the United States II in that way we coul
~ keep munitions from the enemy.
~ I'VE should. however, still earnest
~ urge and insist, as we do, that II il III
~ lust to require us TO protect ourselv'
u. i'm that way, II il were possible to do $
~ which II is not. and that your Cover
ment should protect its vii
ny and SHOULD not permit its citizens
be made the chief instruments of Il
wholesale slaughter that Is now d
vastating Europe.
eff there is anything In the nature
bad faith or Inconsistency in that a
titude, ] confess to being too obtu
TO be able to appreciate II,