Evening star., 1917-09-09
BLOW At ARGENTINA
ASTOUNDS ENJOYS
U. S. Revelation of Germany's
Use of Sweden in U-Boat
Plots Creates Sensation.
"HEARTLESS," SAYS SWEDE

Copies of three brief dispatches mad
public by the State Department yester
day revealed another case of siniste
German diplomacy, this time directed
against Argentina and involving th
| Swedish foreign office in an apparen
grave breach of neutrality and diplo
matte propriety.
| They were messages to Berlin from
| Count Luxburg. the German charge a
Buenos Aires, forwarded by Swedish
| legation there as it's own communica
tions.
| Character of Dispatches.
| Besides revealing the means by which
| Germany used Sweden in her machina
| tions in Argentina, the dispatches sho"
| how the German charge, at the time
Argentina was having a critical dip
| lomatic controversy with Germany ovel
submarine destruction of her ships
was sending through the Swedish lega-
| tion information of the sailings of GER
| tain vessels. with recommendations
| that they be sunk without leaving
any trace" and in other dispatches was
informing his government how to re
gard Argentinas protests against the
destruction of her shipping.
| In the absence of any official com
ment whatever on the disclosures, il
appeared that the manifest purposes
Of the United States in publishing the
correspondence were two. First. te
show the relations between Germany
| and Sweden, at least SO far as the lega-
tions in Argentina were concerned. and
second. to disclose to Argentina. where
German Influences seem to have beer
strongest in all South America, the
manner in which the German diplo-
matte agent at her capital was giving
secret instructions for the destruction
of her shipping. and the manner ir
which he was guiding his governmen,
in dealing with Argentina diplomat
ically.
No Explanation of Source.
, The departments announcement was
sent to the Argentine embassy and the
Swedish legation here at the same time
it was given to the public. There was
no explanation as to how the messages
came into the hands Of the United
States nor disccssion as to what may be
the result.
The action created a sensation par
ticularly among the neutral diplomats
Baron Akerhielm. the Swedish charge
in the absence of advices from his gov
ernment. would not comment further
than to say it was improbable that the
Swedish minister at Buenos Aires knew
of the contents of the dispatches. Axel
Robert Nordvali of the special Swedish
economic mission. declared he was GER
tain that Baron Lowen. the Swedish
minister to Argentina, had no knowledge
of ths co,sis Of the DISPATCHES; y ,s M. ors
vail. that no Swede would have been
a party to such a heartless proceeding.
know Baron Lowen very well: he is
not in good health and it is possible that
he was unaware Of the sending of any
messages. If the dispatches were in
German code, as I assume they were.
even If he knew they were sent, he could
not have known their contents. and may
have thought they were harmless bust
ness messages"
Thinks Baron May Be Recalled.
Mr. Nordvall was of the opinion that
Raron Lowen would be recalled by the
Swedish government, and said he looked
for an explanation and a disavowal of
any intention to commit an unneutral
act.
What effec. I-e disclosure will have
on Argentina's relations with Ger
many could only be guessed at both by
State Department officials and by Am
bassador Naon. The ambassador al
ready has transmitted messages to his
government, and until instructions are
received he will not comment on the
incident nor speculate regarding the
action that his government may take.
That he was astounded at the revela-
tfonS was evident.
1t was suggested by some diplomats
that Germany might have little diff
Guilty in arranging her relations with
Argentina so as to cause the South
American country to maintain her neu-
trail attitude. 1t was pointed out that,
having entered into an agreement with
Argentina recently not to sink any
more Argentine ships. and to pay for
damage already inflicted. Germany was
in a position to explain that she had
r.
agent in Buenos Aires and that. after
all. there could be no diplomatic con-
flict if he were removed.
Expect Argentine Action.
That Argentina at least will demand
the removal of the offending German
was assumed both at the State De-
partment and by diplomats, and it was
pointed out that Germany probably
would grasp at such an opportunity to
close an incident which left to grow
might easily add one more nation to
her list of enemies
Argentina'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 with certain favor upon any prac-
ticable way out of the new difficulty.
Ambassador Naon Of Argentina would
only say that he had forwarded the
state Departme ent's announcement to
his foreign office at BuenoS Aires, and
that as he knew nothing personally
of the subject. he would make no COM
ment
Teuton Messages in Code
Bearing Name of Swedish
Minister Sent Broadcast
LONDON. September s.-Intense in
terest has been aroused in DIPLOMATIC