Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-08
Austrian Ambassador Seeks
to Excuse Acts as
Trouble Maker.
NO PRECEDENT
TO COVER CASE
0umba's Explanation a. Made 70 Sec.
rotary Lansing Considered a. Adding
to Gravity Of oituation-Prssidsnt
Conveys in Person Papers Bearing on
Dumba Case and Startles Official
Washington and Personal Guards.

Washington, Sept. s.-President
Wilson went to the state department
today and conferred with Secretary
Lansing. It was generally understood
they discussed the case Of DIR. Dumba,
the Austrian ambassador.
The presidents action was SO un-
usual that White House and state de.
partment attaches were slow to real
ize what had happened. So far as
officials could recall the only precedent
Of president going to call on a Sec
retary Of state was recorded when
President Mckinley went to call on
Secretary Day.
The presidents call was not ar
ranged in advance. He left his study.
crossed the avenue which separates
the White House grounds from the
state. war and navy buildings. and
walked up the main stairway unat-
tended, while dozens OF surprised tour
lists and employees stopped to look. The
president continued on up. the inner
stairways and into one Of the long
corridors leading to Secretary Lam
sings private office. whore he passed
by the messenger by the door and en-.
tered unannounced.
Lansing "ln Shirt 8lssvss."
Mrs. Lansing was calling on her
husband and the secretary was at his
DESK with his coat removed, as 10 his
custom. Tesdy to begin days work.
Men Of the secret service guard
piled out Of the White House ana into
tho state department building. and
some Of them finally caught up with
Mr.. Wilson ~ he entered the secfe-
tary's ofhce.
It has been customary for the presi-
dent to summon the secretary to the
White House when he wished to COM
fer with him. President Wilson has
departed largely from that custom.
however. by using the telephone.
No Disclaimer From Dumba.
Late yesterday Ambassador Dumba
conferred at length with Secretary
Lansing about the correspondence ta-
ken from an American correspondent
by British secret service men. which
disclosed that the Austrian ambassa-
dor was concerned in project to in
terfere with the manufacture Of war
munitions. The ambassador said he
had been instructed by his government
to make 1t clear that 1t was a erim-
inal offense for any Austro-Hungar-
ian to be concerned in the manufacture
Of the munitions Of war for his coun-
try's enemies.
So far as was known the ambassa-
dor did not disclaim his action. nor
did he disclaim having reported on the
project to his government in docu-
ments found on the correspondent.
Without Precedent.
The state department takes the view
that there is no precedent to cover his
case, but 1t regards the use Of an
American passport by messenger to
q belligerent ecountry as serious.
The secretary of state let II be
known he would present the ambassa-
doris explanation to the president. The
ambassadors explanation was consid-
cred as making the situation more
grave.
After a conference Of fifteen min
utes with Secretary Lansing, the pres
ident started back to the White White.
The state department corridors at that
time were thronged with clerks. No
attempt was made to keep them back,
and as the president moved on he was
surrounded by correspondents who
asked him aoout his talk with the sec
reta-y
1.-The state is no. trembling" he
said. Il just brought over some papers
Of routine nature. Ordinarily I would
have sent them over"
He was asked II there Wns anythinR
new in connection with the Dumba
case
Nothing at ALL" he said. 1.-THE Sec
retary is handling that
Then, surrounded by the secret serv-
ice men, Mr.. Wilson walked across
the street to his Office by the same
route as he had come.
Carried pumba Papers.
Later It was learned the papers he
took to Secretary Lansing included q
copy Of the letters Mr.. Dumba had sent
to his government. PHOTOGRAPHIC
copies also have been sent to the state
department by Ambassador Page in.
London.
After the president returned to the
executive offices. White House officials
said tho visit to the state department
would not be discussed. further.
Ambassador Dumba In the meantime
had been to call on Seer etary Wilson.
OF the department Of labor, in connec-
ton with plan to aid in securing en-
ployment- for Austrian subjects who
might leave the places in munition
plants
Secretary Wilson was not at his Of
fee, and the ambassador returned ito
his chancellory intending to return 10
the summer embassy at Lenox, Mass.
later today.
News Of the presidents cali on sec-
retary Lansing was received at the
embassy with undissuised surprise. !.
Secretary. LAnsing would not discuss
the prssident's Visit except to say hs
was iaHen by surprise surprise ~sT:s:ee:::: che ch!eS
executive entered h!s offlcc Unan-
nounced. 3 = - ssal-