The Washington herald., 1915-09-21

dock at the foot of the steamers
gangplank just before sailing. Hun
| dreds of persons were about. and there
| was not the slightest suggestion of
secrecy. OF its contents l had alb
solutely no knowledge. 1t was in a
| small sealed enevelope. without seal.
however. and owing to the open man
ner in which it was publicly handed
me 1 supposed. of course, that it sim
ply referred to my work. l feel that
the very openneSs of the manner in
which the letter was given me shows
that DR.. Dumba had no intention of
using me or my passport as shield
for the transmission of any improper
letter. but knowing personally I was
sailing, simply availed himself of the
| opportunity Of having his note de-
livered direct.
"I placed most of my papers in the
ships safe-deposit box. intending to
leave them should 1t be again necessary
to proceed overland through England. l
saw no rea son. nor do I know why. he
cause the Rotterdam called at Falmouth,
1 had not the right to have my German
written papers in my possession, or was
subjct to arrest when l was a through
American passenger on a neutral vessel
with no intention of landing in England
or even going ashore.
Il did not conscientiously break either
the spirit or the letter of my passport.
or of any law. but merely did what
every traveller crossing the ocean does.
by carrying notes or small packages as
an accommodation to friends. I regret
this affair. not so much on my own ac-
count as on the account Of the far-reach-
ing consequences to frineds especially
Dr. Dumba. The letter to Baron Rurian,
whom l have known several year& was
as already stated, given me so openly
that l thought it related merely to my
work in the field.
Il was in no sense courier for any
belligerent and am positive that all con-
cerned will bear out this statement
A second statement made by Archibald
denied he had said: II am the victim of
the cunning method of the Austrian and
German Embassy officials in making me-
the bearer of any incrimnating docu-
ment.' The statement added:
AS L have never had any reason to
suspect any such thing and have never
for a moment harbored any such thought.
/ wish emphatically to deny the use of
any expression of that kind. l do not
think that 1 was the victim of an,
trickery. nor do I believe that any off,
cial of either embassy acted In any way
except in the best of faith"
At the pier Archibald was met by
Charles Mercer. whom he described as
his manager" and his secretary, J.
Donovan. Mrs. Archibald and a maid
were held until William d. Iselin, a New
York merchant. recognized and vouched
for Mrs. Archibald. and she was per-
mitted to come ashore
Archibald said tonight he had no as
surance that he will not be prosecuted,
but at the same time said he had no
reason to expect II.
Il am an American Citizen" he said,
"and I certainly would not do anything
that would involve my country"
At the State Department 1t is declared
that no proceedings in regard to Archi-
bald are contemplated there, and that
any further action in his case will be in
the hands of the Department of Justice.
Minister Van Dyke. at The Hague. took
up Archibald's passport when the latter
arrived in Holland. on instructions from
Washington. This action. It is stated. is
all that the State Department can do as
regards Archibald. The department took
this action because II held that Archi-
bald had abused the privilege of an
American passport by serving as a dis
patch bearer for Ambassador Dumba and
attaches Of the German Embassy.