New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-07
MIR. Dumba Should Go.


his intercepted letter TO the Austro-hun-
garian Foreign Office does not explain
"The Worlds London correspondent re-
norts that the documents seized among Inc
effects of J. +. J. Archibald contained
this passage: I'VE can disorganize and
hold up for months, if not entirely prevent
the manufacture of munitions IN Bethle-
hem and the Middle West, which, IN the
opinion of the German Military Attache,
is of great Importance and amply out
weighs the expenditure of the money
involved"
The ambassador now says that the
only modus operandi he had in mind was
10 inform Austro- Hungarian workers IN
the munitions plants that they were IN
danger of being punished for aiding the
enemy if they should return home and
10 persuade them to drop their jobs by
guaranteeing them other employment
But how would such programme
"hold up for months, if not entirely pre-
vent. the manufacture Of munitions IN
Bethlehem and the Middle Vest Mr.
Dumba contemptuously describes the ma
t,ves of Bohemia, Moravia, Carniola, ia
licja. Croatia and Slavonia employed IN
the American steel industry as "unedu-
Gated" and nothing more or less than
slaves" If this description is true, such
workers cannot be very useful or indis-
pensable in an industry which demands
skill as we'll as strength, and in which
very high wages are paid. For him TO
withdraw this labor element from the
plants would only make room for more
intelligent element, and instead of Grip
ping the munitions plants would certain
" tend to increase their efficiency.
The ambassadors explanation does
not support his boast to his government
On the contrary, it makes that boast un-
Ineligible. There is only one way IN
" HIGH Austro- Hungarian subjects engaged
H. the steel plants could be used to carry
ont the plans outlined in the Dumba letter.
They could. perhaps, hold up the manu-
facture of munitions for months if they
should remain at work and at the instlga-
ton of the Austro-Hungarian govern
ment's agents stir up strikes, commit
sabotage. impair the product Of the manu-
facturer and destroy his property.
In dealing with Mr.. Dumba, however,
it is not necessary to hold that ne intended
10 foment crime inside the munitions
factories. Whether he did or did not, he
exceeded his privileges as a diplomat ny
attempting to interfere with the domestic
concerns of the nation to which he is ac-
credited. The United States Govern
ment has dismissed or asked for the re
call of many diplomats because they tried
TO influence domestic politcs-among them
Genet. Catacazy, SackWlle-West and
Tburston. But here is a fragrant attempt
at alien interference with a domestic in
dustry engaged in traffic which inter
national law sanctions and to which the
United States Government IN ITS recent
note to the Austro-Hungarian Government
gave it's complete approval.
Mr. Dumba has confessed his purpose
to disorganize an American industry, to
use money out of the Austro-Hungarian
Treasury to make trouble for American
manufacturers possibly to induce ignor-
ant aliens to commit acts Of lawlessness
and violence. He has abused his status
here and has forfeited its privileges. He
can no longer be regarded as the friendly
representative of friendly government.
Give him his passports and let him go!