New-York tribune., 1916-01-17
GERMAN EMBASSY
DRAFTS DEFENCE
Prepares a Long Answer
to Revelations in
Papen Papers.
HUNTS FOR FLAWS
IN DOCUMENTS
Bernstorff Spokesman Points
Out Discrepancies in Horn
Payment Charges.

Washington, Jan. lG. The German
Embassy has prepared a long list OF
alibis for the charges made against II
in connection with the publication OF
documents taken from Captain Won
Papen, the recalled military attache.
They will be submitted to the State
Department if circumstances later call
for such action.
person qualified to speak for Am
bassador Won Bernstorff said tonight
that there were obvious contradictions
in the cabled dispatches and that until
the Photographic copies were received
here it would be impossible TO issue
any statement. 1t was pointed out IN
particular that the payment alleged 10
have been made to Werner Horn, the
man who blew up the international
Bridge, was at first said to have been
made after the act, while later dis
patches said that Horn received the
money from Won Papen two weeks be
fore he dynamited the bridge.
If such payment was made, it was
explained, it was undoubtedly for
counsel fees, which the embassy would
naturally defray for So German subject
unable to pay Them himself. The $4,000
given to Won Papen the day before the
500 was paid 10 Horn Is shown on
the books OF the embassy, and is dated
two days after the bridge was b.own
up. This makes 1t certain, the en-
bassy points out, that Horn received
the money, il at all. three days after
his crime was committed.
Besides that" The Tribune's in
formant declared. won Papen would
not be fool enough 10 make a written
entry OF payment like that before
the commission of the crime"
Payments to Koenig, Won Wedell,
Kuepierle and others who have figured
IN conspiracy and espionage cases are
explained as pure matters of routine.
IL is acknowledged that these men were
in the German Secret Service, and as
such would naturally be paid By the
military attache Of the German En-
bassy.
There's nothing wrong in that" 1t
was explained "Of course. everybody
knows we have secret service, and
nobody supposes II il made up en-
tirely of patriotic gentlemen who work
for nothing. A. far as that goes, the
publication Of the salary and expense
accounts Of the secret service agents
OF other governments who trail AmbaS-
sador Won Bernstorif would certainly be
more interesting still. He can't turn
around suddenly without humping into
one or "A dozen OF them"
As for Ambassa Won Bernstorif's
having anything To DO with these
things. the idea is held 70 be ridicu-
lOus.
"He did not even know won Papen
had an account in the Riggs Bank an
embassy official said.
The State Department is still waiting
for the documents before making any
comment on the situation Officials be-
lieve. judging from the press reports,
that nothing will be found in the papers
70 warrant any action against the am
bassador. Whether il will be found
that the German governments secret
service operations in this country war
rant "a demand for disavowsl ia an
other question.
No message has yet reached Count
Won Bernstorif concerning his proposal
10 settle the Lusitsnia case. Il is
known positively, however. notwith
standing Berlin reports. that the am
bassador submitted plan 10 his For
eign Office which had the previous ap-
proval OF Secretary Lansing. The en-
bassy expects 70 hear from Berlin on
the subject within a few days.