Arizona republican., 1915-12-04
Secretary Lansing Requests
the Recall of the German
Military Attache and Cap
tain Won Papen, His As
SOciatC
THOUGH THEIR GUILT
WAS NOT PROVED
Their Activities Pointing to
Many Violations Of Unit
ed States Neutrality Had
Rendered Them Persona
Non Grata
rRepublloan A. p. Leased wir.1


mediate withdrawal of Captain Boy
Ed and Captain Franz Won Papen,
respectively naval and military at
tahc of the German embassy, has
been requested by the state depart
ment
In making formal announcement
Of this action late today, Secretary
Lansing said the attaches had rem
dered themselves persona non grata
to the United States government by
improper activities in connection with
naval and military matters.
The secretary acted with the full
approval of President Wilson, who
is understood to have determined
that the United States shall be rid
Of foreign officials who make them
selves obnoxious by activities harmful
10 the best interests of the nation.
The state department made its re-
quest three days ago through Count
von Bernstorff the German ambas-
sador Announcement of the fact
was withheld as a matter of courtesy
70 Germany ana to prevent the
charge being made that the jury try
ing the warship supply conspirators
Of the Hamburg American line in'
New York had in any way been in
flUenced in reaching verdict. No
reply mas been received. but none is
necessary, and it is taken for granted
that the ambassador will order the
attaches away as soon as he had eX-
changed communications with Berlin.
Official Washington was speculat-
ing upon the effect the action might
have on public opinion in Germany.
Information upon that subject, it was
said in high Official circles, would be
awaited with Interest.
1t also became known tonight that
the department has under considera-
tion the case OF Alexander Won Nu-
Der Austo- Hungaian consul general
at New York. whose name frequently
mas been mentioned with those of
Boy-Ed and Won Papen in connec-
tion with activities which have been
frowned upon by the United States
government. 1t was said authorita-
lively that it had not been decided
just what action. if any would be
taken.
1t was intimated that the state de-
partment also was considering wheth-
er any steps should be taken regard
ing ether higher officials of foreign
embassies in Washington.
The complaints against Won Papen
and Bowed were cumulative, dating
back to the early days of the Euro
pean war. The case against them is
peculiar, not being capable of legal
proof 1t consisted of an accumula-
tion of suspicious, circumstances and
conditions which connected the at
taches with attempts to violate the
neutrality laws of the United States.
The accumulation was sufficient 10
convince the department that the OF
ficial status of the attaches in the
United States should be discontinued
Secretay Lansing is understood to
have given consideration to the at
tempts to supply German warships
with coal. provisions and ammunition
and although 10 absolute proof Of
complicty of either of the men
in the passport frauds reached the
state department, a mass of test
imony accumulated to place them
under the gravest suspicion. The
Steglar passport case, false affidavits
which were made in shipping mat
tiers, and the sending of reports to
Austria Hungary by James +. ].
Archibald. an American citizen. all
were among matters taken into ac-
count by the department.
Mr.. Lansing has stated that the
evidence in the Hamburg American
conspiracy trial in New York did not
prove TO the satisfaction of the de-
partment that Boy-Ed had violated
the neutrality laws of the United
States, or that he had done anything
which at the time was in violation
of the statutes. In fact, when the
effort was made to supply the Ger
man fleet in North and South Ameri-
can waters, there was no law on the
statute books which permitted prose-
cution for that action. 1t was only
after the German fleet had been
driven from American waters and
the activities of the Hamburg Ameri-
can line had ceased that congress.
during the closing days of the last
session, and at the urgent request
of the president, passed the act
which makes such proceedings un-
lawful
1t was understood tonight that,
while in the case i: New York moth
ing mad actually been proved against
Captain Boy-Ed in view of the at
tention attracted by the case. officials
reviewed his record and determined
Do Tuyo