Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-09
GERMANY DENIES
PASSPORT MISUSE
Expresses Doubt as to Testimony
Before British Courts Dur
ing Trial of Spies.
NOTE IN REPLY TO LANSING
Energetically Refutes Assumption
That Government Had Part in
Circulation of False Papers.

WASHINGTON. November Seer
many, in n note which reached the
State Department to-day. denies fatty
testimony alleged to have been given
in English courts that German officers
prepared false American passports and
handed them to agents" and expresses
doubt that such testimony ever ac-
tually was given.
The note is In reply TO Il letter pre-
1entcd by Ambassador Gerard on July
30. directing the attention of the i'm
perial government TO statements said
to have been made by Robert Roscn-
thai and George T.. Brcckow when they
were on trial in England as spies. 1t
is suggested that false passport found
on Brcckow probably was issued by one
of Certain individuals in occupied ter
ritory and also in neutral countries
who have cndeavorcd to make a trade
OF selling such papers at Il good price.
If Rosenthal and Breckow really
made the statements accusing German
officials. the note says. IL must be
sumcd that they were induced TO do so
by threats. promises or other pressure
The text OF the note. signed by Herr
Zimmerman. Undcr-Sccrctary of State
for Foreign Affairs. and transmitted
-
The undersigned has the honor to
state the following to His EXccllency.
the Hon. James W. Gerard. In reply to
the letter OF July Is last concerning
the alleged use OF false American pass
ports by the German authorities.
ROsENTIIALS CHARGES
DECLARED NOT TRUE.
The assertions mad. by Robert
ID
az a spy, that a false passport had been
offered TO him In the Offices OF the
German admiralty staff: that Corve-
tionkaptain PricEcr held a stock Of
fa!sihed American passport blanks in
the admiralty STAFF offices, and that the
latter has shown him the water marks
in them. as we'll as rubber stamps for
the lcgallzing OF false passports, one
and all are not true.
with reference to the fact that one
George r. BreckOw. who was arrested
in England AS "a spy. had been supplied
with :. false passport. the Investigations
started have borne no result. IT Is an
established fact. however. that during
the present situation of the war certain
individuals in the occupied enemy ter
rltory and also in neutral countries en-
dcaTorcd to make n trade of issuing
false papers Of lcGitimation and Of
selling them for Il good price In this
way passport falsiiier's den was
raided in Antwerp. which was already
in existence when Antwerp was occu-
pied by German troops II may well
be assumed that che passport found on
Brcckow originated from such a plant
INDUCED BI PRESSURE
TO INVENT STATEMENTS
AS far as the alleged testimony
given hy Hosenthal and Brcckow be :
Tore the English law courts is con
ccrnHd, according 10 which German Of
ticers prepared false passports and
handed them TO ascnts-if such tcsti-
mony should actually have been given
1t must be assumed that the accused
were induced by threats. promises or
other means OF pressure during the eX-
animation TO invent these statements !
In the belief that they might be OF in
tcrest for the enemy states. They may
have hoped to obtain IL mitigation of
the impending severe punishment by
placing the responsibility for the false
passports upon the authorities. and not
on themselves. Strong doubt exists
here, however. as TO whether the al
legged testimony was actually given In
any case, the assumption that German IN
government officials. with the knowl-
edge and consent OF German govern
mcnt auth oritieS. had prepared false
American passports and handed them to
agents, must be cnergetically refutcd.
The undersigned avails himself of
the opportunity to renew to the am
btssador the assurances OF his highest
esteem"