The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-06
A Wide Investigation OF the
Consular Officials I'm
der Suspicion
WILL BE STARTED
BY AUTHORITIES
Capt. Boy-ed and Capt. Won
Papen Not to Be Al
lowed to Remain

Washington, Dec. 6--Developments
which have followed the request for
withdrawal of Captain Karl Boy-ed and
Captain Franz Won Papen, naval and
military attaches of the German embassy,
indicated Saturday that the state de-
partment would conduct wide inyesti-
cation of foreign consular officials In the
United States whose suspected activities
in some instances are looked upon with
extreme disfayor. Should the investiga-
tion disclose that any OF the officials
have acted in a manner considered I'M
proper, their exequaturs will be Cancelled
or the state department will find otlef
means CT having them discontinued In
tire Offices they hold.
Any action that may be taken will
undoubtedly have the full approval vi
H esident Wilson. II is understood that
the state department is proceeding with
the utmost care, and officials are reluc-
tant to discuss the matter. 1t was said
at the department Saturday night, how
ever, that no decision had been reached
in the case Of Alexander Won Nuber, Aus
tro-Hungarian consul general at New
York, whose name frequently has been
mentioned in connection with the actiyi
ties of Boy and Won Papen.
The entente allies, it became known
Saturday, probably win refuse to grant
safe conducts for the return to Germany
of the two German attaches. Great Brit
ain and France, it was stated authorita
lively, may take the position that safe
conducts willingly would be granted If
the two men were civil attaches and were
not actively connected with the fighting
forces of Germany The attaches, it was
pointed out, would be free to proceed to
Mexico. Should they be allowed to re-
turn to Germany, however, they might |
not only take part in the hostilities,
but impart to German officials informa
tion which might prove of great military
value.
1t was made clear at the state depart
ment Saturday that to have the attaches
remain in this country even as private
citizens would be undesirable. The gov
eminent has ruled that they are persona
non grata and wants them withdrawn
entirely from the United States. The
state department also made it clear that
none of the information or suspicious
upon which it acted had been submitted
TO Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, Secretary Lansing taking
the position that such action was UNI
1t was pointed out that the
request for withdrawal of the attaches
could hardly become the subject of dplo-
matte negotiations.
Secretary lansing said he had received
a stenographic report Of the testimony
and remarks of counsel in the conspiracy s
trials of the officials of the Hamburg '
American line in New York, and that it
showed that Assistant United States Dis !
triict Attorney Roger Wood had not gone '
as far as press dispatches indicated in :
his reference to Captain Boy-ed. Secre- Z
tary Lansing was of the opinion that ]
some accounts of the trial which reached !
were made OF whole cloth"
The references in the government at
torney's speech which were most com
planned of, applied not TO Boy-ed, but TO !
lther persons, the secretary said.
Captain Boy-ed came to Washington
from New York and conferred
with Count Won Bernstorff Officials of O
he embassy declined to comment on the s
'tate departments action against the II
Two attaches. II became known that a y
lumber Of attorneys, among them coun- v
iel for the defense In the trial OF the >
hamburg American officials. had called at =
he state department late Friday and n
isked 10 see Secretary Lansing The see. u
etary declined 10 receive them and they r
we're directed 20 the department Of JUS
ic. There they conferred az some length
With Assistant Attorney General Warren.
sho had charge Of the governments in
estigation Of neutrality cases. The pur. -
'0se Of their visit was not disclosed. :,