Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
REPLIES TO CHARGES
MADE BY n. Y. PAPER
DR.. Heinrich F. Albert Denies Secret
Negotiations for War Ma
terials by Germany.

DR.. Heinrich F. Albert, privy coun-
cilor of the German empire. who IL
stationed in New York as the ofhciai
business representative Of Germany
during the war, today telegraphed to
The Star an answer to the charges
against him published by the New
York World, based, he says. on docu-
ments and data which were distracted
from his files.
DR.. Albert declares that the German
embassy informed the State Depart
ment some time ago of Germany's plans
to buy munitions Of war in the United
States. as well as Of Germany's willing
ness to resell such munitions to the
United States government. He declares
that he opposed the attacks of the
Fatherland. the pro-German publica-
ton edited by DR.. George Sylvester
Viereck. on President Wilson.
Dr.. Albert's Statement.
DR.. Alberts statement is. in part. as
follows:
LAS further evidencing the utter
worthlessness and misleading character
of the publications Of which I COM
plain. beg herewith to quote from an
official document filed by the German
embassy with the State Department
June Ii. 1915, from which you will note
that so far from our then Contemplated
purchases of war materials having
been secretly conducted. our intentions
were fully explained to the State De-
partment, accompanied by the offer to
resell to the United States government
any or all of the materials purchased.
III the German government during
the course OF the war should consider
it advisable to purchase arms, ammuni-
tnn 1th t4I - T03t - y
States, it could do SO for no other pur-
pose than to prevent it from falling
in the hands Of the allies, her enemies.
The right of Germany to effect such
Such purchases could not form a dan
ger to the United States, but would to
some extent serve as Limitation upon
the casualties of war, thus serving hu-
manity; such purchases would, further
more, serve the particular interests OF
the United States. for 1t must be re-
membered that il the German govern
ment should ever consider 1t advisable
to purchase war materials in the
United States it would do so knowing
secured and that no use OF the pur-
chased material could be hoped for dur
ing the war.
Glad to Transfer to United States.
1T will be readily understood. there
fore, that the German government
would at any time be willing. and. in
deed, glad, to sell and transfer to the
United States government any or all
of the materials 1t had purchased. In
| stead of depriving this country Of any
Germany would insure the retention
within this country of any material 1t
might purchase. From the German
point of view, purchases at this time by
the German government Of war ma
terial manufactured in the United
States, while it would involve the sac
rifce Of large sums Of money, would
be justified alone by tho consideration
Of the humane effects such purchases
might accomplish in the saving Of the
the hands Of the allies, this war ma
terial would wound and slay.
Not in Sympathy With Attacks.
at SO happens that the transaction
referred to in Mr.. viereck's letter OF
July 1, 1915 (Which was entirely legiti.
mate and unobjectionab le), was never
carried out for the reason that Mr.
Viereck refused to subscribe to the
conditions set forth in that letter. ]
explained to him that we were not in
sympathy with his attacks upon the
administration, and especially upon
no substantial support to the publica-
ton, notwithstanding any claim to
which it might otherwise be entitled
because of it's pro-German attitude.
unless we could have a sufficient con-
troll over it's editorial policy to prevent
such attacks.
IT did this. notwithstanding our de-
sire to assist a publication that would
place the merits of the German point
of view before the American public.
Mr.. Viereck declined to permit his poll
cies to be in any way Influenced by our
wishes, and much that he has said in
his paper has been against our vigor-
GUS and persistent protest"