The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-22
THE Won i0HL PLOTS AND
PAPERS


In an Office in New York there was
seized a few days ago, by Federal
agents, great mass Of documents
dealing with German plots In this
country, including some directed
against Canada. The Office was
rented by one Wolf Won IgeI, in his
own name apparently, and not in
that of the German embassy. Won
Igel Is now alleged to be entitled to
diplomatic immunity, on the ground
that he was attached to the staff Of
the German embassy; and Ambassa-
dor Won Rernstorf on this ground
has demanded that the seized papers
he returned to him Internationally,
on the claim that they are privileged.
II seems that Won Igel was d.
recting widespread pro-German
and anti-Amcrican propaganda In
this country; that he was attached TO
the force Of Captain Won Papen be-
fore that busy gentleman was sent
home; and that there Is some uncer-
tainty whether ne was officially at
tached to the embassy force In time
to extend diplomatic privilege to his
earlier acts. Even IL II be conceded
that his doings after he was attached
to the embassy staff were privileged,
those before he was thus formally
connected would not be immune. The
question Is whether crimes commit
ted while be was merely q private
person could be outlawed by later
giving him an official relationship TO
the embassy.
The Washington authorities, IL Ii
reported. have had the seized docu-
ments sent here, and have proposed
that the German embassy examine
and identify as official such Of them
as il cares to adopt in this way
These will be returned to II.
Decidedly embarrassing would bt
such proposal, considering the
character of the documents. To &C
cept them as official would be to ad
nit that the embassy was officially
mixed up with and backing the Who'll.
series Of plots which are indicated
To refuse to identify them would b,
to abandon the Won Igel group to ii
fate as common plotters against thil
country.
Count Bernstorff's view seems Il
be that an embassy attache can d.
nc, crime; the fact that he Is sucl
attache gives a different color to tn
thing he does. II Is as II 1t ha'
never been done, and must be so re
garded by this Government.
On this theory diplomatic attache
and employees would be commissions
to 60. out and make war on tn
United States in any fashion the
; might choose, and there would be n
way TO prevent. OF course, the pre-
sumption as to diplomatic privileg
is that It is courtesy, not a license
, that IL is not be be abused. The Gel
man attitude assumes that 1t Is
, general authorization to perpetrat
/ any kind Of unfriendly plots and act
with absolutely no responsibility fc
| them.
81 In view Of the shocking nature {
! the disclosures in the Won Ig'
} papers, it is quite possible that tn
affair may presently be found quit
: as menacing to friendly. relations b
, tween the two countries, as the sui
marine issue has been in the last fe
days. This Government has bee
compelled to dismiss diplomat
agents Of both the central power
= because Of their violations Of dipl
matte proprieties. Yet the Jesse
:. has not been needed, and plots ha'
gone on Matching. The present di
: closures reach right up toward Il
embassy itself. They indicate pu
. pose to use the diplomatic cloak
. cover for the commission Of the mo
y viciously hostile acts. Can d
!. United States permit this lind