Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-12-04
SEC. OF STATE
ASKSR[CALL 0F
CAP TAIN BOXED
Franz Won Papen Likewise Is De-
clared Persona non Grata to
United States.
DEPARTMENT NEEDS NO
LEGAL PROOF OF ACTS
Other Officials in German and
Austrian Embassies May Be
Declared Harmful.

Washington, Dec. Immediate
withdrawal Of Karl Boy.Ed and Capt.
Franz Won Papan, respectively naval
and military attaches of the German
embassy, have been requested by the
state department. In making formal
announcement of this action late to-
day, Secretary Lansing said that the
attaches had rendered themselves
personally nOn-grata to the United
States government by improper acti-
vities in connection with naval and
military matters.
Acted With Wilson's Approval.
The secretary acted with the full
approval Of President Wilson, who is
understood to have determined that
the United States shall be rid of for
eign officials who made themselves
obnoxious by activities harmful to
the best interest of the nation.
Made Request Three Days Ago.
The state department made it's re.
quest three days ago through Count
Bernstorff, the German ambassador.
Announcement of the facts was with
held as a matter of courtesy to Ger.
many, and to prevent the charge being
made that the jury trying the warship
supply conspiracy of the Hamburg.
American line in New York had in
any way. been influenced in reaching
the verdict.
No Reply Necessary.
No reply has been received for none
is necessary, and it is taken for grant
ed that the ambassador Wiil order the
tainea n.faease liSR vsh h
Await information.
Ofncial Washington tonight was
spetulatin on the effect the action
might have on public opinion in Ger
many. Information upon that subject,
it is said in, high official circles. would
be- Awaited with interest.
- May Ask Recall of Austrian.
1T also became known tonight that
the department has under considera-
tiOn the case of Alexander Won Uber,
Austrc.Hungarian consul general at
New York, whose name was frequent
" mentioned with those of Boy -Ed
and Won Papen in connection With
activities which have been froWned
upon by the United States govern.
ment
May Go Higher.
1t was said authoritatively that it
had not been decided what action, il
any, would be taken. Others intimat'
ed that the state department also was
considering whether any step should
be taken regarding other higher OIL
cials of foreign embassys In Washing
ton.
Peculiar Case.
The actual complaints. against von
Papen and Boy.Ed we're cumulative
dating back to- the early days OF the
European war. The case against
them is peculiar, it not being liable t
legal prosecution. It consisted of an
accumulation Of sufficient circum
stances and conditions which connect
ed the attaches with attempt to vic
late the neutrality laws of the United
States.
Convinced Court and u S.
The accumulation was sufficien
to convince the department that tn
official status of the attches in tn
United States should be discontinued
Secreary Lansing is understood t
have given consideration to the al
tempt to supply German warship
with coal and provisions, and alhougl
no absolute proof of the completely o
either of the men in the passpor
frauds reached the state department
mass of testimony accumulated wa
enough to place them under the gray
est suspicious.
Needs No Legal Proof.
The state department does not hav
to have legal evidence, but can &C
upon its own ideas OF the casesaof tn
attaches upon the question Of Sobno,
ious conduct. The attaches did nc
have to be found guilty of the charge
of violation Of any law. '2ab