The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-22
GERMAN AMBASSADOR
MAY BE INVOLVED IN
Won |GtL SCANDAL
Yelled Hints I'm Washington Indicating
Serious Outcome of seizure of
Won Papen Papers.
OFFICIAL GERMAN EMBASSY
PAPERS WILL BIZ RETURNED
Won Bernstorff May Receive His Pass
ports As Result of Disclosures
Persists i'm His Refusal to Examine
Documents.

New York, April 2l.--United States
District Attorney II. Snowden Mar
shall announced this afternoon that,
acting upon instructions from Attor-
ney General Gregory. he had forward
ed to Washington the originals of the
important documents seized in the
former office of Captain Franz Won
Papen, so Wall Street.
In the Federal Building, two pos
sible interpretations were put upon
this move:
First. that the government has de-
cided to grant AMBASSADOR Bern
storff7s demand that the documents
be returned to him in toto.
Second, that the officials of the
State and Justice Departments wish
to inspect the originals so there can
be no possible doubt Of their anthem
ITCHY.
The latter Interpretation is cor
rect, according TO high officiais who
took the International News Service
into their confidence.
washington is not weakening In
the least" the International News Ser
vice was informed. This despite the
repeated demands OF Am bassador Won
Bernstorff in Washington and of John
r. Stanchheld. Of New York. for
L
the release of Wolf Won Igel.
VIII Return Official Paper.
Ambassador Bernstorff. I am able
to state, has been informed that he
must recede from his position in so
far as refusal to examine the docu-
ments is concerned. He has been
told that papers which he can iden-
tify as official ones will be returned
to him.
'1n the meantime Photographic
facsiniles will he kept in the Office
OF the local Federal officials;
III the ambassador persists In his
attitude almost any eventuality Is pos
sible This case may bring the in
ternational situation to n head. In
deed It is not beyond the bounds of
possibility that a Diplomatic rupture
between Germany and the United
States may result"
Cabinet Considers Situation.
The situation was considered at
this mornings session OF the Cab
met. direct from Washington
state. The hint came from the
capitol that the German ambas-
saaor might receive his passports
for reasons independent of the
submarine question. This came
after at least two members OF the
OF the seized papers.
The nature the documents seized
" Federal agents In the offices at
so Wall Street was asce-tained today.
Captain Oley and his men pronounced
them the most important evidence
obtained since watch on Germans
I'm this city has been instituted. The
papers were In three portfolios. In
addition there were two books. The
most important portfolio contained
letters from members of the German
embassy In Washington. D. c.. to Cap
tain Won Papen, Wolf Won Tgel and
others at the offices In Wall Street
Several OF these letters were from
Ambassador Won Bernstorff.
Another portfolio contained copies
of letters sent BY Won Papen. Won Igel
and others having headquarters IL
New York to the German embassy In
Washington.
The third portfolio contained cor
respondence from a German repre-
sentative In Toxic. Japan.
The books seized consisted Of an
account book and a journal of cor
respondence. The account hook con-
tanned entries OF all payments made
by Captain Won Papen and by Won Igei
since they established Offices here. This
was a thick volume, Every money
transaction. even to the most minute
detail was recorded.
Contains Complete List.
The Journal contained names OF all
persons with whom there has been
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