New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-09
,ote to U. S. Says British
'p Forced Spies to Invent
Confessions.
uJ!ES CHARGED
WITH FORGERlES
= III, Declares Falsifiers' Den
r,is,ed in Antwerp Before
German Occupation.

L,-e+on. Nov. s.-A note from
- asnvins thst German Admiralty
D .s.,. manufactured and distributed
49,. American passports was received
=. STATE Department to-day Tho
So - government not only contra
~, ,he Truth Of the allegations but
- -, that the confessions OF Ger
,,,es on which they arc based,
=. ;,ver,ions forced by the British
,s,horIties'
-. American government after re-
=. from Ambassador Page sworn
.'...T,.,s By Robert Rosenthal and
-. Breekow. condemned as spies
-, Britain. forwarded an inquiry
p.,lin on July 81. officials regarded
~. ,,.timony SIS convincing. Rosenthal
- two officers Of the German Ad-
~ ~, and said that he had seen
$50 Of passports in the Admiralty
80, signed w. J. Bryan as well as
-, rubber stamps and other acceS-
',,'" OF illegitimate traihe IN Amerl-
ar passports. ..o s,D,or,ad nv a
.-,o,si letter from Rosenthal to Am
y.,,ssor Page. in which he referred to
=, co,fess ion. and by letter 20 ms
.o,bsr. which also substantisted the
charges.
United States Will Drop Case.
rt.re IS little likelihood that this
-,ysrnment will pursue the subject
'rr.tsr with Germany, although Of
s.;sis saw that there is evidence at the
STATE Department which is not refuted
by the German note.
' Tss text OF the note, signed by Herr
7.r,,erran. Under Secretary OF State
soy Foreign Affairs, and transmitted
,s,orrb Ambassador Gerard follows:
aTls Undersigned has the honor TO
cate the following 10 his eXcellency
~ Von. James ". Gerard in reply 10
he letter Of July 81 last concerning
,fs alleged issuing Of false American
,,..norts bv the German authorities:
The assertions made by Robert 10
,,,,bsl who was shot in England as
, SOY. that a false passport had been
ofered 70 him in the ofhces OF the
German Admiralty staff; that Corve..
,ionksp;sin Prieger held a stock OF
hlyfed American passport blanks IN
,bs Admiralty staff Offices, and that the
alter had shown him the watermarks
IN hem. as well as rubber stamps for
,hs lsgalization Of false passports, one
and sll are not true.
Accuse Neutrals and Enemy.
With reference TO the fact that one
George r. Breckow, who was arrested
N England as a spy. had been supplied
si,h a false passport. the inveStlga-
tons started have borne no result. II
s an established fact, however, that
during the present situation OF the war
certain individuals in the occupied
enemy territory. and also in neutral
Countries. endeavored 70 make trade
q issuing false papers OF legitlmatlon
and Of selling them for good price.
IN this way a passport falsifier's den
vas raided in Antwerp, which was al
ready in existence when Antwerp was
occupied bv German troops. IL may
vel be assumed that the passport
found on Breckow originated from
such plant.
As far as the alleged testimony
gwen By Rosenthal and Breckow be-
fore the English law is concerned, &C
rordng 10 which German officers pre-
pared false passports and handed them
10 agents II such testimony should
actually have been given. 1t must be
assumed that the accused were induced
by threats. promises or other means oil
pressure during the examination TO IN.
vent these statements, in the beliei
that they might be Of interest for the
enemy state. They may have hoped 70
obtain a mitigation of the Impending
severe punishment by placing the re-
'ponsibity for the false passports on
The authorities. and not on themselves
Strong doubts exist here, however, as
70 whether the alleged testimony was
sciually given. In any case. the as
sumption that German government OF,
fcsls, with the knowledge and consen,
Of German government authorities, mac
prepared false American passports and
landed them q agents must be ener'
se,ically refuted"