The Washington herald., 1917-10-24
CONSULAR SEAL
Barred FACTS
Won Bernstorf's Trunk
Opened Cause Of His Ex-
posure, Says Holland.
by HOLLAND.


represent the British government.
= specially In furnishing the United
States with confidential information.
relating to spies and other matters
Involving German propaganda. Of
which discovery was made in Lon
don, ventured an explanation of the
manner In which Secretary Lansing
secured some. II not all. OF the doc
uuents which revealed the methods
adopted by Count Won Bernstein.
while he was still ambassador from
Germany to the United States.
Ths authority said that among
the various pharaphernalia which
Won Bernstein was permitted to take
aoroard the steamer by which he
was transported by the United
States to Sweden. was a trunk
which. had It's original seal been un-
broken would have been transport
cd from the United States to Sweden
without being opened.
This trunk which contained va
rfous papers and documents was
sealed at Washington with the seal
Of the Swedish Minister. 1t was
therefore. inviolate. It was immune
from investigation. But when the
trunk arrived In New York, GER
tain members of the Swedish con-
sulats broke the seal, in order that
they might open the trunk and place
within II various documents
Having done this. thsy used the
consular seal for Tesealing. At Hall
fax. when the British authorities
vers Investigating Won BernstoT's s
baggage. they found this trunk aud
~ IL had only q consular seal upon
II, they opened IL, Notwithstanding
the earnest protest that were made
by Won Bernstein or others.
The British authorities then ad-
naitted that II the trunk was sealed
with the seal OF the Minister from
Sweden at Washington, it would be
inviolate, but asserted that the con-
sular seal did not give immunity to
It The British authorities said that
there was CONSERVATION at Washing
ton, when it was learned that this
trunk had been opened and its COR
tsnts carefully examined.
Many were the revelations which
this examination furnished. Not all
Of them. not even the greater part
Of them. have as yet been made pub
lie by the Secretary Of State. He
may deem it expedient to disclose
certain other sensational information
whcih the examination OF this trunk
has furnished.
Honestly Accomplished.
On the occasion of the celebration
Of the opening Of the new aqueduct.
which has been ten years under con-
struction. and which brings water
from the Catskill Mountains to the
/ 'ntire city in a daily amount sufficient
for a community of four times greater
population than New York now con-
tafns there was one statement, briefly
made. which refutes certain vague
accusations that were in circulation
when this most gigantic aqueduct
ever constructed was in the build
ipg- ------. 90,
Mayor Mitchell stated that although
the aqueduet cost S1i0.o0O.CO0, yet it
had been planned and constructed
and was now open to public use with
out any cloud of dishonesty or sus-
pieion of grating. or any scandal
whatever being associated with the
work. That is more than can be said
Of many great undertakings. involv-
ing over 800. OOc. 900. The absolute hon
esty associated with this work fitting
" supplements the unparalleled en-
gineering and scientific skill which
was so successfully entailed in the
construction OF it.
Mayor Mitchell spoke of Mayor Nc
Ciellan as the executive of New York
City who deserved recognition which
would become traditional. for It was
his initiative that made the work
possible. Mayor Mitchell might have
added that Mayor McClellan's father
George B. Mcclellan. planned and
perfected the superb sea wall or high
way which fronts the Hudson River
So for these reasons. the name of
Mcclellan will be permanently asso-
ciated with two of the greatest pub
lie works undertaken for the benefit
OF New York City.