The Washington herald., 1917-09-09
SWEDEN'S BETRAYAL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
The identity Of the agency through
which they were obtained as concealed
the source OF information in the Zim-
norman plot case.
The action of the United States in
making the notes public is taken 20
indicate that the United States con-
templates drastic action. Otherwise
they would have remained a secret of
diplomacy, to be smoothed over be-
hind the closed doors of chancellories
and foreign Offices.
Added significance is lent by the lis
patch of the notes to the represent
atives OF the nations interested. There
was no conCealing the fact that this
nation regards relations with Sweden
as strained to the utmost. Imme-
diateIy, the trunk episode" when
Minister Ekengren tried to send a
trunkfuI of documents to Stockholm
on the ship which carried Count Won
Berustorn. the German Ambassador.
ordered from the United States was
recalled.
Bernstorff was afraid to take any Of
his papers with him because OF the
fact that it was certain the British
Il
wall would inspect them. So. at the
last minute, a trunk, under the ON
ciaI seal of the swedish Legation, was
sent to New York to be placed aboard
the vessel. It was consigned to the
foreign Office at Stockholm.
Efforts were made by the legation
official in charge Of the trunk 10 bring
il into the Pullman car with him.
The railroad authorities declared the
trunk must 90 in the baggage car.
Break the Seal.
En- route to New York the embassy
seal was broken. the railroad eX-
planning this probably was due TO
rough handling" Rumor has since
persisted. however. that the secret
agents Of foreign government
obtained access TO the trunk.
At New York it was re-sealed and
put aboard ship. The British au-
thorities at Halifax attempted to
search it, but EKcngren protested so
violently that the search was called
off. Great Britain, however, refused
to pass the trunk except on agreement
that it be opened at London before
representatives of the British foreign
Office and the Swedish minister there.
SNeutu dNCtDlth ullhtl DlOAN6N'
So England knew what was in the
trunk. The United States, OF course,
was advised.
How long the LuXbers messages have
been in possession of this country is
matter of mystery. 1t was stated
definitely by an official today that this
country mas proof of their having been
delivered at Stockholm. 1t has not
been more than a few weeks, however,
in opinion here, since they reached
Washington.
Wall street Advised.
That the State Department was
about to make a disclosure of inter-
national moment was nosied about
early today. Wall Street got it with the
market opening. All hints Of the
nature of the news was concealed,
however, until just before l O'Clock,
when the announcement was made.
The expose is hailed as the greatest
revelation of the attitude of the Ger
man autocrats yet made. The advice,
given direct to the powers in Berlin,
that murder on the high seas be COM
mitted against the subjects of a ncu-
trail nation, because that nation hap
pened to protest against the sinking
wanted to keep some foothold in
South America. is regarded as lone
Of the reasons why America Is at
war"
I'VE must wipe out a government
which listens to and acts upon such
counsel, which plots such crimes
said a high official.
At the neutral embassies and le-
cations comment was interested, but
reserved. The allied powers already
knew of the notes, 1t is said they had
been advised by the State Depart
ment of the knowledge at its hand.
Sweden Pro-German.
Sweden is notoriously pro-German In
its government and has been through
out the war. Re-export Of food
brought from the United States to
Starving Sweden" has been proven
time and again, but the cul0rits were
too expert for even the Britt. ! block
ade, Copper has gone the g. way.
When America first began TO talk
embargo, the Swedes sent a mission
here headed by DIR. LagercraI, To-
days disclosure seals the fate hat
missions representations. They MT
ed food and coal and steel and III
kinds Of other supplies. Meanwh'.
they were shipping their own similar
products to Germany and using the
American materials they did not re-
export for their own use.
The Argentine acting minister OF
foreign affairs referred to In one or
the Luxberg messages as "a notorious
ass and anglophil" was said at the
embassy today undoubtedly to be
HonoE1o Puesredon, an intellectual
and University dean.