The Washington times., 1915-09-06
THE CONCLUSIVE PROOF


THE CONCLUSIVE PROOF
The material from DR.. Heinrich
F. Albert's misplaced portfolio of
documents, as it was presented by
the New York World, was neces-
sarily somewhat fragmentary. 1t
was not possible to fill in all the
gaps. But enough was at hand to
make a showing, convincing to every
candid mind, of the improper activi-
ties Of agents representing foreign
governments in this country.
Manifestly the exposure caused
much concern to diplomatic agents
Of Germany and Austria; but now it
develops that Ambassador Bern
storff wrote a long explanation of
the affair to Secretary Lansing,
secuted at the sensational expos
ures, and tried to wave them aside
as romantic tales" A copy Of this
explanation he also furnished to a
trusted but unfortunate messenger,
to be delivered to the Berlin authori-
ties. This messenger, a war corre-
spondent of strong pro-German pre-
elections, was held up in England
and his papers taken away from
him.
Count Bernstorff, it appears from
these various documents, as their
contents are outlined in part by the
World, assured Secretary Lansing
in effect that the stories of Teutonic
inspiration Of labor troubles in this
country were "hot air" and romance.
Unfortunately, the same messenger
who served Bernstorff also acted for
Count Dumba, the Austrian ambas-
sador in Washington, and Dumba,
communicating direct to his gov
ernment, outlined his scheme to
"disorganize and hold up for months,
if not entirely prevent, the manu-
facture of munitions in Bethlehem
and the Middle West, which, in the
opinion of the German military at
tache, is Of great Importance and
amply outweighs the expenditure OF
the money involved"
That is to say, while Count Bern
storff was assuring our Government
that charges of this kind were "ro.
NANCE" his military attache was
collaborating with Dumba to or.
ganize a general system of labor
troubles from Pennsylvania through
out the Middle West. 1t is per
fectly plain, for Ambassador Dumbs
in an astonishingly frank interview
last night admitted it, that the Aus
trian ambassador was engaging il
performances hostile to this coun
try, prejudicial to its peace and Sc
curity. The German military at
tache was collaborating in them
These were practices that the diplo
matte establishments of friendl!
powers could not carry on; incitini
the populations of large industria
communities to strike, riot, ant
make the prosecution of industr,
impossible.
This is nothing less than wagin,
war against the United States.
That Ambassador Dumba shoul,
have admitted all these things an
undertaken to defend them ma,
seem astounding. But the fact j
that he was caught with the goods
There was nothing to do but admi
it. He knew that his dispatche
had been intercepted; that the
,, were in possession of the Britis
authorities; that they would be com
municated az once to the Washing
ton foreign Office. He could d
nothing less than put on Dol
Y front, admit the whole story, get i
: his defense first, and proclaim tina
< what he had done was unobjectior
e able.
y But what are the facts? The OF
= fense against the United States
n one that no ambassador could con
: nit and continue his ambassadors
S relation.
e 1t is an outrage against the Pre-
i prieties and the decencies of diplt
r matte relationship that sell
g respecting country cannot permit.
The German and Austrian ambas
1sadors have ended their usefulnes
t in this country.
& They have treated the Unite
e States with utter contempt, an
t placed themselves in a position ths
: must make it impossible for ou
e Government further to deal throug
them.
d If their own and their govern
t ments' sense of fitness does not di
n tate that they be voluntarily will
g drawn from service here, the