The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-18
UNTERMYER DENIES
HE AIDED GERMANS


that these occurrences were in 1915.
before the United States entered the
warr-a and he insisted that he regarded
them as purely business transactions.
Asked what paper was under consid-
Grafton, Mr.. Untermyer said:
1T has been stated here that It was
THE Sun. The evidence seems to bear
that out"
A letter from Albert to Mr.. INTER
myer said that the writer was in COM
munication with Berlin friends regard
ing funds for the purchase.
did you know of Albert's connec-
ton with Germany at that timer
asked Senator Sterling.
"Oh. yes" he replied
can you imagine Ambassador
Bernstorff becoming interested in a
paper unless for German propaganda
purposes?" asked Sterling.
mo, I cannot" Untermyer replied.
but Albert's position was n very diff
ferent one from Bernstorff's. He was
commercial attache. a business man,
and, l understand. a speculator."
Did you ever discuss the purchase
Of any newspaper with Bernstorff ?"
| asked Major Humes.
mo. had very few conferences
with Bernstorff and met him very sell
DOM" replied Mr.. Untermyer.
Were you acquainted with Ru-
mely?" asked Humes.
II met him once. I had nothing to
do with the purchase by him of the
Mai" Mr.. Cntermyer said.
Mr.. Untermyer was asked in whose
interests he was working when he at
tempted to get control OF a New York
paper prior to the start ofsthe war.
i don't object to stating It to the
committee. but I do not think his
name should be made public. He Is
! one oftthe best known newspaper men
in the country" he replied.
The name was written on a card
| and handed to Chairman Overman for
the Information Of the committee. It
| was not made public.
Mr.. Untermyer in his formal state
| ment to the committee did not mention
THE SrN properties by name but re-
| ferred to his letter of February 10,
| 1916. TO DR.. Albert proposing the pur-
chase OF n certain morning and after
noon newspaper, now known to have
been TaB Sun and THE EVENING SUN.
His statement to the committee in re-
gard to his letter. which was produced
in evidence by A. Bruce Bielaski. chief
| Of the bureau of investigation OF the
| Department OF Justice, follows:
THE negotiation, II It can be digni-
| fed by that name, was conducted by
| one OF my friends, q well known and
| experienced newspaper man. This
was before mentioned the subject to
Dr.. Albert or had any thought that
he might be interested and was for
| our joint account, / never came in
| contact with the proposed vendors:
It never reached that stage. The talk
about this evening and morning paper
| being in the market had been COM
mon gossip for a long time and We
were anxious to acquire 1t on proper
| terms. I had discussed II in 1918 be-
fore the European war with the same
friend at time when he was con-
sidering the purchase Of the Evening
Post, which was then supposed to be
| for sale. We have been and are still in
negotiation for another paper on his
! behalf.
Sought Minority Interest.
ION learning that the paper referred
to in my letter to DR.. Albert might
possibly be had suggested to him,
as it now appears, not a majority, as
has been claimed, but a minority in
terest; that is a As interest, from
which we were to reserve an interest
of Il in the paper. which would leave
him and his friends 5-12 and would
! leave 7-12 to the American interests,
including the Ia that the former own
ers were to retain. Even that was con-
ditioned on our receiving an option to
buy back sufficient OF the 5-12 thus
sold to give US. together with our u 3,
a clear majority without respect to the
other l-3 held by the former owners,
on a basis of DR.. Albert and his friends,
OF course. receiving a profit on the
| optioned stock. the amount OF which
would have had TO be the subject of
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