Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-21

claimed by his reference to former
occasions"
The name of the organization
through which the German govern
ment had sought to influence Con-
gress. the manner in which tho
money used for this purpose was ex-
pended. the previous instances and
the individuals carrying on the pro-
paganda, although not disclosed, pre-
sumably are known to the State De-
partment and to the Department of
Justice, whose bureau of investiga-
tion for more than three years has
been conducting rigid surveillance
OF German activities IN this coun-
try.
Reports ON Intrigues
Records of the Department of
justice are overflowing with re-
ports from hundreds of agents con-
cerning German intrigues here, many
or which led to the German en-
bassy and some of which resulted
in the recall. at President Wilson's
request of Captains Boy-Ed and Won
Papen, the German naval and mill
tary aids
Up to this time Boy-Ed and Won
Papen had appeared as the master
spirits of German propaganda here.
Intimations that German plots and
intrigues were directed not by them
but by Count Won Bernstorff with
the full approval of Berlin hereto
fore had been met by officials with
silence. For months past, however,
there have been many indications
that the American government had
established Ambassador Bernstorff's
connection with much of the Ger
man secret work conducted here and
that there was ample basis for q re-
quest for his recall several months
before the diplomatic break with
Germany.
Bernstorff Careful
Up to the time of Boy-Ed's and
Won Papen's recall. Won Bernstorff
apparently. for diplomatic reasons,
had sought to remain clear person
ally of connection with the great
volume of pro-German activities con-
Quoted here by his attaches.
From disclosures concerning Boy
Eds and Won Papen's manifold ac-
tivities here officials apparently OBJ
tanned the impression that Won
Bernstorff in most instances had
left the conduct of German propa-
ganda in the hands of his subordi-
mates, with only casual supervision
of their activities, If any.
Intimations have been more or
less frequent. however, at trials and
other proceedings instituted against
pro- German agents in this country
that Won Bernstorff had at least
general knowledge of the work which
they were conducting. The govern
ment's purpose in not following these
leads with public disclosure was to
permit of closer examination into
the ambassadors actual participa-
tion in them.
Raided Offices
In that connection officials re-
called to-day Count Won Bernstorff's
action in connection with the seizure
of April, 1915. of important papers
and documents at the office of
Wolfe Won Igel in New York. Won
IgeIs office, ostensibly an advertis-
ing agency, was raided by Depart
ment of Justice agents who after a
struggle subdued Won Igel and seized
the papers in his possession. Count
Won Bernstorff at once protested and
demanded. their return. Copies were
made of The documents and Won
Bernstorff was told that IL he would
personally declare them to be the
property of the embassy the origi-
nails would be restored.
The affair remains in that state
to the present day. The contents
of these documents have not yet
been disclosed officially although It
was not denied at the time of the
seizure that the papers contained
revelations of prime importance.