The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-08
LANSING HURLS
TEUTON THREATS
IN THEIR TEETH
Refuses to Exchange
Won Rintelen For An
other German.
lTALK OF REPRISALS
Germany Warned That
the u. S. Will Not Toll
crate Mistreatment
Of Americans.
|TALK OF REPRISALS

Washington. June 7---Secretary
OF state Robert Lansing In note
which brinties with defiance has
refused demand from the Ger
man government for the release
by exchange OF Captain Ii~uten-
ant FrHux Won Riutenl~n. master
spy and piotter.
4 threat TO institute reprtsais
among United states prisoners ts
hurled hack with the warning
that the fate OF all Germans in
the custody of the United states
depends upon strict ndher~nc~s to
accepted International practices.
A note r~cesved in the state DE-
partment on April 20. through the
Swiss minister, proposed the ~x-
change of siegfwird Paul London.
convinced by the Germans ns SPY
Iva Warsaw and given ten years
penal seryitude.
The difference Of the station of
the two prisoners and their resp~e-
tive values 10 the governments
concerned is regarded "a ginr-
ing example 81 G~rnanys unwiIi-
ingness. at amy time, to make
fair bargain.
si~gfrtend paul London IN re
ferred To in the German corn mani
que as a @~ttiren Of the United
stateA-~ AS matter of fara he
WINS born i'm Leipzig cf German
parents and has resided ip Rus
STA during the last ~ixteeT years.
He took out naturaliEstiorf papers
I'm View York In 1852
Captain Lieutenant con Rinteien
In one of the most conspicuous
figures connected with German In
trtgue In this country and Eye
land. He was custodian and dis
bursting agent of the great fund.
estimated mt $4,000. 900, placed ss
the disposa1 of Count von Bern
storn. former Ambassador In
Warrington He was convicted
only a few mouth. ago on a charge
of conspiracy and sentenced 10
serve two years in n federal prison.
He IL now in Atlantis and is
likely TO stay there. according TO
the authorities.
Great interest WAS attached TO
the arr~~t of Captain ven Rinte-
len, owing to the assertion that he
IL an iiIewttimate son of the
kalAer.
This was never refuted and II Is 7
Earded as a certainty at the state q
rartment that the prisoners CONNIE
ton with the German nobility Is I
direct cause of the measures taken
secure his release.
Mr. Ianeings reply said in part:
The German government threate
measures OF reprisai II Rtntelen is n
released or exchanged for London.
I'm reply. ! have the honor to a
wise you that this government cann
consider tho exchange Of Rinte,en
A,n '
lease Of Rinteisn nor interference WI
the due process OF law in his case.
The threat Of the German COVER
ment to rotaliate by making America
"a Germany suffer clearly implies II
the government proposes to adopt
principle that reprisais occasioni
physical suffering are legitimate a
necessary in order to inforce ieman
from one beligerent to another, I
government of the United States I
knowledges no such principle a
would suggest that 1t would be w
Tor the German government to &C
slider that X II acts upon that prin
MA IL will Inevitably be uuderstc
10 invite similar reciprocal action
the part Of the United States with
anect to the great numbers of @
man subjects In this country. 1t
assumed that the German governr'
before acting will give due reflect
a,d due weight to this considerat
IT beg that you will be good enou
20 bring the foregoing statement
the attention OF the German COVE
msnt.
accept, SIR. the renewed assuran
OF my highest confederation.
(Signed) ROBERT LANSING.
intArDre
hare was regarded as brazen thr
"a disregard all precedents hetw'
heiiirerents for the treatment
prisoners
should the German government
tempt to carry out the threat to ca
! suffering among American prison
ana the United States authorities
A. 70 adopt strong retaliatory me
urea the point 10 made that the adv
tage IL all with the government.
--latest records Of the war deps
msnt show that a total Of 1a3 Am'
can soldiers have been located
Cserman prison camps. There are a
9fe American civilians, including s.
an. who are interned In Germany.
"About 5000 Germans are inter
a. this country This includes l.
prisoners. OF war at Fort McFhers
"a. most Of whom were seamen
0erman ships: s3s allen enemies
Fort Ogiethorre. Ga; 49, alien {
mics ut Fort Douglas. Utah. ana
tween 1000 and 2.S0o prisoners Ia
from German merchantmen. at
0prtngs, N. c.. at present under
! Assortment Of labor.
laFtve hundred Germans informed
fhis country are being sent to 81
&camps to aid In cultivattng gard
me- hundred Of them 80 to Camp I