The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-27
u. S. HELPLESS
TO STOP LEAK
INTO BERLIN
Some of BernstOrff's Staff
Are at Swedish and Swiss
Legations.
AUSTRIANS THERE TOO
Department of Justice Per-
mits Situation Causing
Criticism.
LANSING'S PLEA FAILS
Secret Code Messages May Be
Sent Via Neutral
Countries.
AUSTRIANS THERE TOO
PLEA FAILS

OuutTltbs
AsHINoroN, May 26.-The announces
by Secretary Daniels that secret German
agents gave Berlin advance information
concerning the arrival OF American de-
stroyer forces In the war zone has
focused attention OF diplomats here on
the fact that the United States is per-
mitting certain members of the German
and Austrian embassies 10 remain in
| Washington and entov all the privileges
| of diplomatic immunity and secret code
| messages to Europe.
These alien enemies. including one q
the most expert OF Count Won Bern.
storfrs former aides. have simply been
| transferred to the Swiss and Swedish
| legations. The state Department has
| called attention to the danger of this
| situation, but the Department OF Justice
has simply replied that 'the men had
| been investigated and were believed 10
| be harmless.
Diplomats, including one official OF u
neutral legation. have expressed surprise
| that this situation is tolerated. Iheir
interest in the matter has been keenly
aroused by the statement OF secretary
| Daniels and Oy statement lIpih peoieo
! Creel. Director of the Bureau OF Public
Information, that newspapers should eN-
ercise unusual care because after lapse
of ten days or more they may find their
| way to Germany. Mr.. Creel also enter'
tains the conviction that the great dah-
ger is apprehended from high agents OF
the German Government who through
some device may get cable information
to Europa
PrivileRed Enemies.
The particular officials Of the Austrian
: and German Governments who nave All
. the privileges OF Entente diplomats mere
5 can send via Sweden or Switzerland what-
, ever information they like TO berlih u"
: the secret codes of diplomacy. which al
ways pass unchallenged by the censors.
, There is no possible means by which this
I Government can have the remotest ioea
Of what Is being sent.
II Is presumed OF course that the Swiss
, of Swedish legations would stop sucn
. proceedings II they knew definitely that
. the matter was OF = military ana secret
, nature, but the methods OF avoiding de-
lection are many and varied. AT any
rate II appears to be an unwise policy
/, In the opinion OF diplomats. to permit the
possibility OF direct secret coinmunica-
. ton between Washington and Berlin
I even though there is nothing to show
, definitely that advantage is being taken
| OF the leniency of the Department OF
Justice in this respect
Diplomats say the Department OF Jus
= tice probably puts too much confidence
r in the reports of its agents concerning
$ the former members of the German and
d | Austrian embassies, who have been
It transferred to the Swiss and Swedish
n legations. These men presumably have
y a high sense Of honor and apparently
n have compotted themselves since the
A | sla tad tafa in n mn
% leaving nothing to be desired. but 1t is
"a pointed out in diplomatic circles that
~ the German and Austrian doctrine places
d the interests of the Government above
every personal or other consideration.
'e Question of Honor.
). The very honor OF these officials i'm
N plies. il IL said. that they would lose no
N opportunity of helping their Govern
N ments in "A crisis, no matter what the
N cost 10 themselves. This is a doctrine
/. inculcated in every official in the Ger
Ia man Government. Many In official cir
cles believe that the Department Of Jus
OF tice is not perhaps giving sufficient
~ thought to the general policy II is pur-
- suing The State Department has been
-. and is a little anxious over the situation.
~, The Department is understood TO have
n. given the matter serious consideration
Is chiefly because of the policy involved
"a by Secretary Daniels that information
~ about the movements OF American war
-" ships Is being communicated in secret
.. code to Berlin.
70 The State Department. II developed
70 70 to-day. is not inclined 10 agree with the
~ policy OF Secretary Daniels and Mr.,
go Creei in making public the announcement
=. OF this morning In such general terms OF
~. suspicion without facts showing whether
~ or not secret agents were actually oper-
~ ating on American soil and transmitting
&c. code messages to Berlin about American
set warships II is generally felt that Mr.
1e. Creels announcement should have beer
"" censored or toned down. Secretary Dan
iels modified the statement to-day by in
dicating that the news may have
reached Germany from British sources
lip It Is regarded as certain, however
me that the announcement made by Mr.
les Creel with the authority of Secretar!
OF Daniels will produce at once something
In like spy fever in the United States
sts From the viewpoint OF exciting the pub
md lie or attempting to demonstrate tn
OF need of censorship legislation this ma
md be beneficial in the estimation of tn
ere Bureau OF Public Information. but ad
md mittcdly 1t will tend TO excite popula
ch. feeling against German residents in tn
en- United States. and this the State De
md partment desires to avoid
ina s Administration's Hope.
Germans in the United States. II
was emphasized. have observed law and orde
est since the outbreak OF the war, whic
has caused the kccnest satisfaction
but the White House and the state Depart
Who ment The hope has been expressed tina
hit nothing would be done TO change tn
ills. situation and as long as the German
gro, continue their present course Presider
Wilson and Secretary Lansing desi'
yest that Their property and personal righ
rted be protected and that their feelings
ant. SHARED according to the spirit ot Amer
the can justice and far play
rect There is n strong suggestion In sta
mob Department circles that sweeping Who'll
ests sale accusations against Germans In
United States should not be made