The Washington herald., 1917-09-25
Gigantic Diplomatic Storm
Gathers as Audacious Hun
Operations Uncover.
KAISER SUBTLY PLOTTED
AMERICAS DESTRUCTION
Personages High in Financial and
Business Circles Are
Involved.

While Secretary of State Lam
sing was silent yesterday regard
ing German intngues, it was pre-
dicted in official circles that rev.
elahons even more astounding
than any yet would be forthcom-
ing within a fortnight-this time
revealing slush fund of millions
with which Germany sought to
enmesh this country in war with
at least two other nations.
Evidence to this effect is said TO
be now in the hands Of the IN
vestigatOrs of the Department of
Justice. A list of men and firm,
who have been aiding in a large
way German propaganda plots is
now in the possession of the De-
psrtment of Justice.
AnxiOus TO Convict.
II Is said that indictments are looked
for Of some men high in financial
and business circles; that such a
step will be taken rather than an
exposure Of the names OF all who
are mentioned. The government now
wants to convict the guilty.
Supposedly the State Department
has been put in possession OF the
facts or it will he within q few
days. At any rate Official Washing
ton is looking for the real climax
to the stories OF German durIicitv.
intrigue and crime that have been
committed here, while the perpetra-
tors have been psetending friendship
for this nation and its people.
Large sums Involved.
While the vast sum mentioned lsas-,,
out Of proportion to the individual
amounts that il is known German
agents spent here. officials are saw
ing that IL bears a strong connection
with the efforts to make trouble be-
tween the United States. Mexico. and
japan. II has been known for many
months that Franz Won Rintelen, now
In British prison, boasted that he
had been authorized 10 eNpend SO. 0.OoO.-
TOO in fomenting trouble between the
United States and Mexico.
Whether the RinteIen boast forms
a large part Of the evidence that the
Department OF Justice is now be-
lieved to have. IS only a conjecture.
but as the iutrigues so FAR barred
have mentioned only comparatively
small sums like S5".cno. Il is taken for
granted that the forthcoming expos
ure will deal with transs -tions large
enough to be worth any prize offered.
officials Have Names.
II was an open secret in ad-
ministration circles last night that
the Department Of Justice has
the names OF men 70 whom 4
large part Of this money went
or the channels through which Il was
10 work its influence. These names. IL
is understood. are the subject Of con-
ferences Of justice officials to deter
mine whether they shall be made pub
lie in full, or whether the big princi-
pals shall be sifted out and indict-
ments brought against them alone and
70 let the smaller fry go. Il is the
belief Of the justice investigators that
many Of the persons named have been
brought innocently into the p-opa gan
dist move and that they should not be
put in jeopardy.
1t has been known for some time
that the recent exposures Of the State
Department have been only a small
part OF the props Fandist activities OF
which the authorities OF this country
are aware
Many OF the persons who were en-
gagged in such traffic before the United
States entered into the war, have
proven themselves patriotic citizens
since. For tbs reason the officials
are reluctant 10 bring trouble 20 all.
As long as America was not directly
az war these persons were doing moth
ing more than turning a slightly
tainted penny by dickerinE with the
Germans. II is now considered likely
that the government will seek indict-
ments only of those who plainly Nlo-
lated the laws Of neutrality and are
still suspected OF a divided LOYALTY.
Ii was common gossip in the finan-
cial district OF New York before Count
Won Bernstorff was sent out OF the
country, that he had made large
sums of money in Wall Street for his
own account and for the Eaiscr's.
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