The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-16
Tale German Imposed on Bryan
Creates a Stir.
Safe Conduct Obtained on Plea
of BernStOrff.
REAL MEYER WAS HERE, TOO?
Kaiser Chieftain Said to Have
Travelled IncOgnitO.
Efforts Made to Buy q. s. Rifles
Are Alleged.

Washington, June 16.-Published
charges that DR.. Anton Meyer-Ger-
hard, for whom the United States ar
ranged safe conduct with the allies
that he might return to Germany with
a personal message from Count Won
Bernstorff, tho German ambassador,
was in reality DR.. Alfred Meyer, chief
of the supply department of the Ger
man army, who had been secretly in
the United States buying munitions
of war, are to be investigated by the
state department.
simultaneously another version of
the story-that DIR. Alfred Meyer,
while not passing as Meyer-Gerhard,
has been in this country and sailed
for Christiania incognito, also will be
looked into.
Courtesy to Bernstorff.
State department. officials and
members of the diplomatic corps here
knew of the story today only from
however. that at the personal request
of Count Bernstorff, former Secre-
tary Bryan asked the British and
French ambassadors for safe conduct
for DR.. Anton Mcyer-Gerhard, a rep
resentative of the German Red Cross,
who was returning to Berlin to carry
personal message from the count
after the latter's audience with Presi-
dent Wilson in the midst of the diplo-
matte negotiations with Germany.
Mr.. Jusserand, the French ambas-
sador. at the time inquired closely of
Meyer-Gerhards identity, and state
department officials recalled also that
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British am
bassador, had suggested there was evil
dence of activity by Meyer-Gerhard
other than Red Cross work. The up
shot of it was, however, that the state
department at the request of Count
Bernstorff. gave him a letter.
ssRepresentatfves OF Red Cross.''
ut was letter" said Secretary
Lansing today, that was given at the
request of the German ambassador.
stating that DR.. Meyer-Gerhard, who
had been in this country as the repre-
sentative of the German Red Cross,
desired to return to Germany.
No question up to that time nor un-
til today had arisen at the department
as to whether Meyer-Gerhard might
really be Meyer, or if Meyer was in
the country secretly buying war sup
plies.
At the British and French embas-
sizes it was said the development was
considered one purely for the state
department to determine, II 1t mad
been imposed upon.
German Officials Absent.
At the German embassy all officials
were absent. One report. which re-
ferred to DR.. Alfred Meyer as pur-
chasing arms here, spoke of an at
tempt to buy obsolete United States
army rifles, and said former Repre-
sentative Herman Metz had conferred
with former Secretary Bryan on the
subject. Mr.. Bryan said today he had
no recollection of any such conversa-
ton with Mr.. Metz. Secretary Gar
rison said he knew of no negotiations
for the rifles, and reiterated that early
in the war, with approval of the presi-
dent he had announced that the
United States would avoid all embar-
rassment by declining to sell the arms
to anyone. The department will look
into the question, not because it in
wolves any question of international
law so far as officials could see. but
if the charge of double identity were
sustained it would involve diplomatic
usage and courtesy.
American Red Cross officials were
inclined not to question the identity
of DR.. Meyer-Gerhard. They said he
came bearing apparently proper let
ters of identification and with the en-
dorsement of the German embassy.
Some inquiry probably may be di-
rected to the minister from Denmark,
Constantin Brun, who is said to have
arranged for the passage of Meyer
Gerhard on the steamer United States.