The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-12
lMElIcl lnllEs LONDON.
work Of intermediary Accredited to
Argrntina Exposed by state Do
parsmoat.

London. Sept. s.-Thc state depart
msnts revelations OF a Swedish diplo-
mat In Argentina acting as an inter-
Dnetiiary for transferring German mes
1aess to Berlin has created one of the
grsatee( International sensations of
the war. The development itself is
not, hewsvsr. a great surprise. the
chief surprise being that the officials
were able TO discover the messages as
they did the Zimmerman note last
winter OF the overtures to the Mexican
govsrnmont
xhs Swedish government. with the
monarchy. aristocracy and the army
o6bcers has been strongly pro-Ger-
msn In the present war and Queen
victoria In several utterances has
pfx,claimsd her German sentiment as
strongly as.any country could. The
swsd.sh people. on the other hand.
aro reported as leaning strongly
asninst Germany In tho more recent
stasss Of the war.
SWeden's leaning toward, Germany
vas rsgardsd as q natural compile
msnt to her old fear OF the Russian
{. Autocracy. The impression has been
current in England throughout the
var that Germany was obtaining
mhsh information Of military move
msntA whch could not be secured
through ordinary spies.
The belief that Lord Kitchener's
death when the Hampshire went
down was the result Of information
transmitted to Germany Of his depar-
ture has tsen persistent for many
days and Il b a known fact that at
least his plans were known and dis
eusssd at dinner tables In high society
before he started.
Complin.en ents to American diplo-
RSw for the skill displayed In obtain
ine the message are part Of all the
comment ON the affair. Incidentally
there 70 much discussion an to wheth-
sr In view Of the British and Argen.
tine experiences with Sweden tho
right Of sending code messages should
- siven to neutral diplomats dur.
iag the war.
The discovery and deciphering or
the present series OF kilograms Is due
to the watchfulness and skill of the
American intelligence service" says
The Sunday Observer. The Observer
states that II received this informa-
tion from Trustworthy sources" Tho
newspaper continues:
1T must cause some ground for re
Election to the German government
that one Of the first acts OF the new
enemy. whose activities and value In
the prosecution of tho war they have
affected to despise. has been to expose
. procedure which affords damaging
evidence to themselves and against the
neutral government which It is char
table to regard as their dupe.
Tho contents Of the published telc-
grams can not but show neutral gov
ernments the amount of faith they
put In German promises and Germa =
concessions. The accredited repre-
sentative or the German empire n,
Bucnos Ayrcs while actually enjoy
ing the hospitality OF the Argentine
Republic is seen advocating the de-
liberate murder Of Argentine subjects
on the high seas I'm order that tho
sinking OF Argentine ships by German
submarines should leave no trace
which would make their crime know d,
o: that country.
This Is no single instance. Spur.
los versenkt.' is consistent policy
Which Is deliberately carried into eff.
feet In an attempt to hide from neu-
trail countries the results OF unrestrict-
cd submarine warfare and other ma =
tions than Argentina. such as Norway,
I'm particular. know II Is to their cost.
"A further point Of interest Is the
assurance apparently given by the Ar
gentine government that Argentine
ships Will In future only clear as far
IN Las Palmas. In other words. Tho
pretended Immunity for Argentine
ships. accorded with show Of mag
F, panimity by the German government,
In rure farce.
az will be interesting to hear wha.
Argentine public opinion will say
when II now learns the real ma
ture OF the diplomatic victory which
the Argentine government claims t,
have gained"