Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-04
Secretary Lansing Informs
Ambassador BenStorff of
Objections to Boy-Ed and
YOn PaDen
HAVE DISPLAYED TOO
GREAT ACTIVITIES
Relations With COnSpiratorS of
Hanburg-Anerican Line Too
Conspicuous to Be Over
looked,

rsy noasSo JouRHAL SPECIAL LEASED wiEsl
Washington Dec 5,-lmmediatc
withdrawal of Cautaiu Bowed and
Capt Franz Won Papen respectively
naval and military attache of the
German embassy has been requested
by The state department
In making formal announcement Of
this action late today, Secretary Lam
sing said the attaches had rendered
themselves persona non grata to the
United States by improper activities
iu connection with naval and military
matters
Approved by President
The secroiarv ,;ed with the fun
approval of President Wilson, who is
understood to have determined that
the United States shall be rid of for
eign officials who make themselves
obnoxious by activity harmful to the
best interests of the nation.
The state department made its re-
quest three davs ago through Count
Won Bernstorff. the German amhassa-
dor Announcement of the fact was
withheld as q matter of courtesy TO
Germany and to prevent the charge
being made that the jury trying the
warship supply conspirators of the
Hamburg-American line in New York
had i'm any way been influenced in
reaching a verdict No reply has
been received, but none is necessary
ana it is taken for granted that the
ambaszldac viii order tho attaehes
away as soon as he has exchanged
communications with Berlin.
What VIII Germany Think?
official Washington was speculat-
inc upon the effect the action might
have on public opinion in Germany
Information upon that subject, it was
said, in high official circles, would be
awaited with interest
Ii also became known tonight that
the department. has under considcra-
lion the case of Alexander Won Nuber
Austro-Hungarian consul general at
New York. whose name frequently has
been mentioned with those Of Boy-Ed
and Won papen in connection with ac-
tivties which have been froWned
upon by the United States govern
ment II was said authoritatively
that it had not been decided just what
action, if any. would be taken 1t
was intmated that the state depart
ment also was considering whether
any step would be taken regarding
other higher officials Of foreign cm-
hasses in Washington.
Long Series of OffensCs.
The complaints against Won Papen
and Bov-Ed were cumulative dating
back to the early days OF the Euro
pean war. The case against them is
peculiar. not being capable Of legal
prof 1t consisted of an accumulation
of suspicious. circumstances ana con-
ditions which connected the attaches
with attempts to violate the neutural-
itv laws Of the United States. The
accumulation was sufficient to con-
vince the department that the official
Status Of the attaches in the United
States should be discontinued.
Secretary Lansing is understood to
have given consideration to the at
tempts to supply German warships
with coal, provisions and ammunition
aud although no absolute proof of the
completely of either of the men in the
passport frauds reached the state dc
partment, a mass of testimony accum-
uated to place them under the grav-
est suspicion The Stegler passport
case. false affidavits which We're made
In shipping matters and the sending Of
reports to Austria-Hungary by James
i. j Archibald. an American citizen,
all were among the matters taken into
account by the department
Evidence Not Conclusive.
MIR Lansing stated that the evi-
dcncc in the Hamburg American con-
spIracy trial in NsAA York did not
prove to the satisfaction of the de-
partment that Boy-Ed had violated
neutrality laws Of the United states
or that he had done anything which
at the time Of commission was in yio-
lation Of the federal statutes. In fact
when the efforts were made to sup
ply the German elect in North and
south American waters there was no
law on the statute books which per-
mitted prosecution for that action. II
was only after the German fleet had
been driven from American waters
and the activities Of the Hamburg
American line had ceased that con-
gress during the closing days of the
last session. and at the urgent request
of the president passed the act which
makes such proceedings unlawful.
No Evidence Required.
II was understood tonight that while
in the case in New York nothing actu-
ally had been proved against Captain
BoyEd in view of the attention at
tfacted by the case. officials reviewed
his record and determined that now