Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-22

ants
Although not officially admitted there
is ground for the belief that the Won
Igel incident so far as its diplomatic
aspects are involved may be settled
by the restoration of the papers IN
question and an expression of regret
on the part of the United States gov
eminent for their seizure. In fact, Sec
rotary Lansing, this morning SAID that
the papers" would be returned to
Count Won Bernstorff. the German am
ba ssador in compliance with his formal
request. The Secretary declined to com
nit himself on the question of whether
he referred to official documents above
or to all the seized papers, regardless
of their character.
While officials of the State Depart
ment were inclined to minimize the i'm
portance of the case, the impression
prevailed in outside diplomatic circles
that the issue involved was found to
accentuate the crisis growing out of
the submarine controversy. 1t was
argued by some that the person and
property of Won Igel were immune
from arrest because of his diplomatic
station. and that the law officers of
the United States had violated interna-
tional usage in entering his office and
SelZing papers there
1t was held that such proceedings
were not justified even upon well
grounded suspicious that some of the
papers secured contained evidence of
an discriminating character.
1t is understood that the German am
bassador has an engagement with Sec
rotary Lansing for Monday afternoon.
1t is possible that an agreement will
be reached at that time on the various
points in dispute.
All the papers in the case are in the
possession of the State Department
Following their arrival here from New
York. they were sent by the Attorney
General to the Secretary of State for
a
proper. The desire of the German am
bassador for the return of the seized
papers was said to be accompanied by
IA request for the delivery to the EN-
the same. Photographic plates and the
catalog of the papers said to be in the
possession of the officers of the De-
partment of Justice. There are objec-
tons to strict compliance with these
demands, and a serious clash is regard
ed as possibility.
The German ambassador has inform
ed the Berlin authorities of his action
In the case, and is awaiting further in
structions.
Date of Alleged Crime.
The crime alleged against Won lyle,
under an indictment charging con-
spiracy to blow up the Welland canal,
was committed in September, 1914 1t
has been reported that the State De-
partment was consulted before Won
lgel was indicted. and officials of the
Department of Justice have made ii
clear that they would be guided entire
iy by the wishes of the State Depart
ment in respect to the case.
The German ambassador has asked
for Won lgle's release. Counselor Polk
of the State Department advised ;he
department OF Justice to free Won Lyle
unless the offense was committed be-
fore he was registered as d member
of the embassy staff
Although the originals of the Won
lyle papers reached the Department of
are still in possession of United States
Attorney Marshall in New York Mr.
Marshall already has presented some
of them to the grand jury at New York
as evidence, 1t is said. and this evil
dence is now under consideration by
the grand jury, with the possibility
that further indictments of pro-Ger-
man Offenders may be voted. The
grand jury has impounded all of the
DOCUMENTS as evidence pertinent to
cases now under consideration.
Situation Complicated.
That development further complicates
the situation created by the ambassa-
doris demands. 1t is pointed out, in
dQQl tlOn, tndt the STdnd jury and the
federal authorities have already made
a careful study of the documents, and
! that in any case they cannot be re-
strained from being guided by the evil
dence thus obtained.
1t has been learned that some of the
documents which have been examined
are code messages. They are regarded
as especially Interesting. for it is
known that the government agents
would be pleased if they could obtain
the key to the code which has been
used by pro-German conspirators in
this country.
The papers are described as consti
tut1ng the largest haul made by the
government since the activities of the
agents of the central powers in this
country were first uncovered"
AS result of the seizure of these
| papers II was said the complete opera
| tons of an alleged Teutonic spy sys
TEN IN America will be revealed. in
clud'nS the names of the alleged di
| rectors of plots to destroy commerce
ana or men who obtained secret in
| formation for that purpose