New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-14
TEUTON SPY PLOT
LAIDBY RINTELEN
In 1906, HCHARGE
Predicted European Crash
Then, Says Banker Who
Met Him on Arrival.
u. S. ATTORNEY GETS
LABOR COUNCIL BOOKS
No Signs of 100000 Fund-Al-
legged Bomb PlOtters Accused
of Conspiracy to Murder.

Germany's disavowa Of the acts OF
Captain Franz Won Rintelen, the propa-
Randist who is accused Of seeking to
foment strikes in munition plants in
this country, called forth a statement
yesterday from a prominent banker in
this city, who told of having met Won
Rintelen at reception in the home of
wealthy brewer in Fifth Avenue in
1906
The banker said that Won Rintelen,
now a prisoner in the Tower Of London,
and whose associates in this country
are in the clutches Of the Federal law,
came here in 1906 TO prepare to pro-
tect Germany's interests on the pre-
sumption that European war was i'm
minent
"The reception at which | met Won
Rintelen," he said, was given on the
evening Of February 7, 1906. Every
body seemed anxious to meet him. He
fitted from one guest to another, sd-
dressing each in the particular Ian
guage in which he CHANGED TO have
heard them conversing.
although an American citizen, | am
Of French birth, and naturally ! spoke
al times in French. Won Rintelen ad-
dressed me in excellent French and
began talking about the Algeciras af-
fair. He had an Office at 81 William
Street, he said, and was associated with
The Deutsche Pank.
"Hc asked me what I thought of the
Algeciras affair ! told him ! did not
think it was anything TO become
alarmed over. whereupon he said: 4 tell
you that this affair is likely to fame
up az any moment into general Euro
pcan war. It is bound to come IN Few
years anyhow, and why not nowF
Came to Start Plots.
81 learned afterward that Won Rinte-
len was sent here at that time to lay
plans and do the same sort Of propa-
raudist work he did a few months ago,
when his SOY work was discovered and
he was forced to leave the country.
81 asked him why he felt so confident
about a general cOnfiagration IN Flu
rops. He replied: The time has come
for France to decide whether she will
east her fortunes with England or Ger
many. If she chooses Germany, all Will
bc well. If she picks England, ] assure
you France will pay the cost Of the
war with French territory and French
money
The manner Of the man and the
strength of his convictions startled me.
] told him that if Germany forced a
general European war she would bring
upon herself the condemnation OF the
civilized world. ] assured Won Rintelen
that ] was an American citizen, and
that if Germany projected such a war
she would have 10 reckon with the hos
tlity of America.
This brought our conversation 10 a
sudden close, Won Rintelen remarking
that If Anne "a was wise she would be
on the side of Germany. OF course, the
Imperial German Government has dis
avowed Won Rintelen's acts, but this is
only iu keeping with the war plans Of
the army. ] think there is reference
i'm the German War Book which says
that should a spy or propagandist be
found out by neutral power 1t was
imperative that the Imperial Govern
ment denounce his acts"
Labor Council Books Here.
Practically all the activities Of
Labor's National Peace Council, al
legged by the United States Attorney
to have been financed by money sup
piled by Won Rintelen, were laid bare
Yesterday before H. Snowden Marshall.
The disclosures were made by J.. p.
Straube, secretary of the organization,
which is said to have gone out of bust
ness when Won Rintelen left the coun-
try.
The books and documents are album