Middletown transcript., 1918-06-15
HUN THREATS FAIL
TO FREE spy
D. S. Refuses to Exchange 19inte-
len for American Held.
WARNS AGAINST REPRlsAlS

German Government Advised To Con-
slider That There Are creat
Number OF German Sub
jeets In America.
Washington.-The German Govern
ment, threatening mistreatment Of
Americans because of the imprison.
ment of the bomb plotter Franz Rtnte-
len, has been warned by the United
States to remember that such a step
will draw swift retaliatory action upon
the thousands of Germans in this counr
try.
Germany's threat and the answer
Of the United States were disclosed
by the State Department. In q note
presented by the Swiss Minister here
the Berlin Foreign Office proposed TO-
exchange for Rintelen Siegfried Paul
London, a German-born, naturalized
American citizen, serving 10 years in
prison in Germany for acting as Rus
sian spy. Notice was given that an
answer to this proposal was awaited
before putting into execution contem-
plated measures of reprisal against
Americans in Germany because of the
failure of previous efforts to relieve
Rintelen.
Secretary Lansing replied with q
terse communication refusing to con-
slider the exchange, and suggesting
that, while the United States does not
acknowledge the principle of reprisals
occasioning physical suffering, it would
be wise for Germany to consider that
if it acts upon that principle it in
evitably will be understood to invite
similar action on the part of the
United States.
On April 20, 1918, the Swiss Min
lister presented to the State Depart
ment a note from the German govern
ment, which said, in part:
up to the present time the efforts
of the German government to effect
Captain-Lieutenant Rintelen, who pass
ed into the hands of the American au-
thOrities by reason of acts of the Brit
ish government, contrary to internar
tional law, have been unsuccessful.
The attempt to bring halt to the
criminal proceedings brought against
him in America and to secure his re-
lease has likewise been without re.
suit. In order to lend greater en-
phasis to the protests which have been
the German government contemplate&
some appropriate measures of re-
prisal. 1t would, however, prefer to
avoid the contingency that persons be
taken and made to suffer because the
government of the United States waa
apparently not sufficiently cognizant
of its international obligations toward
German subject.
Before making a definite decision
the German government believes It
should propose to the government Of
the United States that Captain-Lieu-
tenant Rintelen be set at liberty by
exchange for the American citizen
Seigfried Paul London, who was con-
demned to death for espionage and
whose sentence was later committed
to ten years penal servitude, and that
Capta1n-Lieutenant Rintelen be per.
mitted forthwith to return to Germany.
Should the government of the United
States agree to this proposal the Ger
man government would take steps that
London's uncompleted term of Inn
prisonment be RENTED and that he be
set at liberty in order that he may i'm.
mediately leave the country"
To this communication Secretary
Lansing sent the following reply
through the Swiss Minister:
"In reply have the honor to advise
you that this government cannot con-
slider the exchange of Rintelen for
London, nor can it consider the release
of Rintelen nor interference in the due
process of law in his case.
1.-THE threat of the German Govern.
ment to retaliate by making Americans
in Germany suffer clearly implies that
the government proposes to adopt the
principle that reprisals ocasioning
physical suffering are legitimate and
necessary in order to enforce demands
from one belligerent to another The
Government of the United States
acknowledges no such principle, and
would suggest that it would be wise
for the German Government to con-
slider that if it acts upon that prin.
ciple it will inevitably be understood to
invite similar reciprocal action on the
part of the United States with respect
to the great number of German sub.
jects in this country. 1t is assumed
that the German Government, before
acting, will give due reflection and due
weight to this consideration.
Il beg that you will be good enough
to bring the foregoing statement to the
attention of the German Government"
London is native of Leipzig. Ger
many. He was born ip 1862, and when
20 years old came to New York, where
he lived from 1882 to 1900. lie was
naturalized May %, 1887, in the Court
of Common Pleas, New York. Just
when he went to Warsaw Is not known
here, but he was there in 1903. Hia
citizenship is questioned by the State
Department because of his lonR
expatriation.
$4,000 TURKS HOMELESS.