Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-09
GERMANY DENIES
ISSUING OF FALSE
= MEXICAN PAPERS
Berlin Government Asserts No
Fraudulent Passports Given to
Agents as Reported Testi-
fled by Spies.
DOUBTS STATEMENT EVER MADE
Note to Washington Says Confess
sions, if Uttered, Forced by
British.
BELGIANS HELD RESPONSIBLE

WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-Germany
in note. which reached the State
department today, denies flatly testi-
mony alleged to have been given in
English courts that German officers
prepared false passports and handed
them to agents" and expresses doubts
that such testimony ever actually was
ever actually was given.
The note is in reply to letter pre-
sented by Ambassador Gerard on
July 81. directing the attention OF the
Imperial government to statements
said to have been made by Robert
Rosenthal and George T. Breckow
when they were on trial in England
as spies. 1t is suggested that a false
passport found on Breckow probably
was issued by one of certain indi-
viduals in occupied territory and also
in neutral countries" who have en-
deavored to make trade of selling
such papers at good price.
Forced tn Make Statements.
IF Rosenthal and Breckow really made
the statements accusing German Off
cials," the not says, 1T must be assumed
that they were induced to do so by
/ threats, promises or other pressure"
The text of the note signed by Herr
zimmtrman, under secretary of state for
foreign affairs. and transmitted through
Ambassador Gerard follows:
THE undersigned has the honor to
state the following to his excellency, the
Honorable James w. Gerard, In reply TO
the letter of July 81. last, concerning the
alleged issuing of false American pass
ports by German authorities:
THE assertions made by Robert Rosen-
than, who was shot in England as
spy, that a false passport had been Of
fered to him In the office of the German
admiralty staff. that Corvetionkaptain
Frieger held a stock of falsified Amer
lean passport blanks in the admiralty
staff offices, and that the latter had
shown him the water marks in them as
well as rubber stamps for the legaliza-
tion Of false passports, one and all are
not true
BeIHinns blamed.
! with reference 20 the fact that one
George T. Brekow, who was arrested in
England as spy, had been supplied, with
false passport. the Investigations
! started have borne no result 1t is an
established fact however. that during
the present situation of the war. certain
individuals in the occupied enemy terri
tory ana also in neutral countries en-
deavored to make trade of issuing
false papers of legitimation and of sell
ing them for a god price. In this way
there passport falslfiers den was raided
in Antwerp which was already In ex-
istence when Antwerp was occupied by
German troops. 1t may be well assumed
that the passport found on Breckow or
iginated from such plant.
"As for the alleged testimony given
by Rosenthal and Breckow before the
English law courts, Is concerned, ac-
cording to which German officers pre-
pared false passports and handed them
to agonts-if such testimony should ac-
tually have been given-it must be as
sumed that the accused were induced
by threats, promises of other means OF
pressure during the examination to in
vent these statements in the belief that
they might be of interest for the enemy
state.
Doubted Testimony Given.
They may have hoped obtain miti-
/ cation of the impending severe punish
ment by placing the responsibility for the
| false passports on the authorities and
not on themselves Strong doubts ex-
list here, however. as to whether the al
legged testimony was actually given. In
anyn case. the assumption that German
government officials with the knowledge
and consent OF German government au-
I thorities had prepared false American
| passports and handed them TO agents
must be energetically refuted.
1.-The undersigned avails himself Of the
| opportunity to renew to the ambassador
| the assurance of his highest esteem"
~ ~ NnnG