The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-09
Swedish Legation in BuenOs
Aires Transmits TeutOn
Message in Code.
PLANNED TO DESTROY
ARGENTINE SHIPS
Disclosure by America Gre
ates Sensation, Especially
Among Neutrals.
BY Associated Press,

aShlncton. sept. S.-COpieS or
three brief dispatches, made public by
the state department today, revealed
another case Of sinister German di-
plomacN, this time directed against
Argentina and !nvnlving the Swedish
foreign office In an apparent grave
breach of neutrality and diplomatic
propricty.
They were messages to Berlin from
Count l.uNberg, the German charge ut
Huenos Aires, forwarded by the Swed-
ish legation there as its own com
munications., BESIDES advising that no
concessions be granted Argentina In
the submarine controversy, they sug-
gestod that the South American co,in-
trN's ships be sunk without leaving
amy trace" and gave information as
To the sailing and positions of certain
vessels.
No Explanations.
The departments announcement was
sent 10 the ARGENTINE embassy and the
Swedish legation here at the same
time II was given to the public. There
was no explanation as TO how the mes
sagcs came into the hands OF the
United States, nor discussion as To
wha, may be the result.
The action created n sensation, par
ticnlarly among the neutral diplomats.
Baron Akcrhielm. the Swedish charge.
in the absence of advices from his
government. would not comment fur
ther than 10 say II was improbable
that the Swedish minister mt Buenos
Aires know OF the contents of the dis
patches. ANel Robert Nordvall of the
special swedish economic mission. de-
Clared he was certain that Baron
lnwen. the Swedish minister to Ar
gentina. had no knowledge of the con-
tents of the dispatches.
Nordvali Excuses Action.
Moreover. | am sure said Mr..
Nordvall. that no SWcde would have
been u party to such II hear,less pro-
ceeding. II the dispatches were in
German code as | assume they were.
even II he knew they were sent. he
could not have known their contents
and may have thought they were
harmless messages
Mr.. Nordvall was of the opinion
that Baron LoWcn would be recalled
by the Swedish government and said
he looked for an explanation and II dis
asowal of any intention To commit
an hnhentfdi act.
Naon Astoundsd.
What effect the disclosure will have
ON Argentina's relations with Germany
could only be guessed at both by state
department officials and by Ambas-
sador Naon. The amha ssador already
has transmitted the messages to his
government and unless Instructions
are received he Will not comment on
the incident. That he was astoundcd
at the relations was evident.
That Argentina at least will de-
mand the removal of the offending
German was assumed both at the
state department and by diplomats.
and 1t Was pointed out that Germany
prohably would grasp at such an op-
portnnity to close an incident which.
left to grow. might easily add one
more nation to her list of enemies
Argentine's evident desire in past
months not to enter the war, or even
to break relations with Germany, has
caused the belief here that she will
look for certain favor uponoany prac-
ticable way out of the new difficulty.
England Is Aroused.
London, Sept S.--lntense interest
has been aroused in diplomatic and
political circles here by the Washing
ton dispatches announcing that the
state department has proof that Swe-
den has been acting as intermediary
for transferring German messa q es
from Buenos Aires by way of the
Stockholm foreign office to Berlin.
The Associated Press learns that the
foreign office at Stockholm has been
acting as telegraph office for the
German government and for the last
three years has regularly or continu-
ously transmitted cables In German ci-
pher under the guise OF swedish gov
crnment messages.
How Scheme Worked.
Cipher dispatches bearing the sigma
ture of the Swedish minister OF foreign
| affairs and addressed to the Swedish
| legations in certain foreign countries
have been handed by the Swedish le-
cation to the German legation in the
| country to which the messages were
addressed, the message being In real
ity in German code. In the same way
the German ministers in various for,
eisn countries have been in free tele
graphic communication with Berlin b,
handing their cipher messages to tn
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