The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-20
Not Likely That Austrian Ambassador Will Be Handed His Passports Because of Letter
STATE DEPARTMENT
 WILL GET ARCHIBALD
 PAPERS THIS WEEK
Action Will Then Be Taken Against German Military Attitude and Austrian Consul General

Washington, September 1s.--High of- hcials indicated tonight that no fur ther steps were contemplated against Dr. Constantin Theodor Dumbn, the Austro- Hungarian ambassador, on ac- count of his letter to Secretary Jsnsing criticsing the treatment accorded him by the American government In connec- ton with the request for his recall. It was stated that the possibility of hast ening the diplomats departure from the country by handing him his passports had not been considered.
 Dr. Dumba's letter was received at tho state department yesterday.
 The official view. as authoritativeiy ex- plained today, of that part of pr. Dum- ba s letter fin which he sought to show that he had not been guilty of improper conduct warranting request for his re- call, is that the amba ssador only par tially stated the case and set up man of straw to knock it down. The letter defended at length the right of the ann bassador to inform nationals of his coun- try they were violating Austro- Hungar- Ian laws in working in plants turning out munitions of war for the allies It was pointed out by officials that this point was not in issue but that the req son for the Washington governments ac- ton was the following statement by the ambassador in the intercepted letter to his foreign minister:
 discriminating Statement
 T am under the impression that ws could if not entirely prevent the pr,duc- tion of war materials in Bethlehem and the middle west, at any rate strongly disorganize it and hold 1t up for months, which, according to the statement of tho German military attacbe. is of great im- portance, and which amply outweighs the relatively small sacrifice of money"
 officials have not been informed of pr. Dumba's plan for leaving the Uni ted States, although he has asked his government to order him home to make personal report. So long as he quits the country and does not appear again as an envoy In Washington, 1t Is understood the United States will not question the manner of his going.
 Regarding the ambassadors charge that he had not been allowed to com municate freely with his government, and that message giving his report on ac- tivities had been held up by censors in this country, 1t was said at the state and navy departments tonight, that nothing was known Of such message. This question will be investigated further to- morrow.
 Archibald Is Coming
 pr Dumba's deca ra tion that brief confidential message sent by him to vi- enna by wireless asking that he be re- called on leave as allowed to become pub lie is being investigated. This message was published by New York newspaper, and it was said today efforts were being made to discover whether the law pro- hbiting telegraph operators from divuls- ing messages had been violated
 Copies of all documents taken from James F. J. Archibald. the American newspaper correspondent, in London. are expected to arrive at the state depart- nient this week. When they are received officials will decide whether to take any action against the Austro- Hungarian con- snl general, Capt. Franz von Papen, the German military attache here. and the Hungarian editor who drew up the mem- orandum.
 Archibald himself is expected In Wash- ington this week to explain his action in messages for a foreign govern- ment while travelling under an American passport.
 watertown. N. Y.. Septemebr 19. Robert Lansing, secretary of state, ar f rived at his home, Henderson Ilarbor. today from New York. He plans to take a rest, spending most of his time fishing on Lake Ontario. s