Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-11


Washington, Dec. 1.-Emperor Viii
liam has personally withdrawn Cap
tains Boy-ed and Won Papen, the naval
and military attaches of the German
embassy here, and has made 8 person
al request that the United States Sc
cure safe conducts for them and their
successors. This was formally an
nounced late Friday by Secretary
Lansing.
A communication from the German
foreign Office announcing. the action
was delivered 10 Secretary Lansing
Friday by Count Won Bernstorff, the
German ambassador. who hurried here
from New York when he was advised
that a reply to the request Of the
United States had been received at
the embassy from Berlin, Mr.. Lans-
ing, after q short conference with the
ambassador, authorized the following
official statement:
The German ambassador has in
formed me that the emperor has been
pleased TO recall Captains Won Papen
and Boy-ed in compliance with the
wishes of the United States.
There was much satisfaction in Off
cial circles Friday night at the prompt
action taken by Emperor William and
at the outcome of a situation which.
for a time, appeared to be threatened
with serious difficulties Count Won
Bornstor1's muhner as he left the state
department, reflected his own appar-
ent qualification.
It was learned Friday night that
there was possibility Of further Dip
.lomatic correspondence on the subject
of the withdrawal Of the attaches.
While the reasons given by the United
States for its request were accepted
as satisfactory because any objection
on the part Of the American govern
meut to the attaches would render
their continued presence undesirable,
the German government later may see
fit to address a communication to the
United States stating that it does not
find itself able to agree that the attach
es conducted themselves in a manner
which justified them in being de-
clared undesirabIes.
Safe Conduct Asked.
The British and French embassies
Immediately viii be asked by Secre-
tary Lansing to secure safe conducts
for the return to Germany Of the off,
GERS. The requests will go to the Lon
don and Paris foreign Offices, and it
is said that either Great Britain or
France or both may demand that if
Captain Boy-ed and Captain Won Papen
leave the United States they must go
under parole, giving their words not
to take part in the hostilities in Eur
ope.
On the other hand The opinion is un-
derstood TO prevail at the German
embassy that it is proper 10 ask for
safe conducts without qualifications,
as the coming of successors to the at
taches would remove two fighting Off
GERS from Germany Secretary Lans-
ing has determined that the question
of asking safe conducts for the sue
cessors Of the attaches shall be de-
cided after they have been named.
win Consider Won Nuber.
Secretary Lansing now is free also
to consider the cases Of other foreign
diplomatic and consular officers which
the state department has under inves-
tigation. The case of Alexander Won
Nuber. Austro-Hungarian consul gen.
eral at New York probably will be de-
cided first.
1t also is known that the department
has under consideration the case of a
high diplomatic official. though a de-
cision in that matter is not expected
for some time.
Neither Captain Boy-ed nor Cap
tain Won Papen was in Washington
Friday night. Captain Boy-ea went to
New York early in the week aud was
followed Thursday by Captain Won
Papen. Both viii return 10 the en-
bassy within the next few DAYS TO bid
farewell To the officers of the embas-
sizes and legations Of the neutral gov
ernments and the governments allied
witt, Germany.