The sun., 1918-10-30
CAILLAUX-LUXBURG
LINK WAS MINOTTO
Becker Says Former French
Premier and German Spy
Did Not Meet.
TRIAL OPENS IN PARIS
Committee Receives More
Than 1000 Documents Bear
ing Upon Case.

Alfred L. Becker, Deputy State Attor-
ney-General, said yesterday that Joseph
trial on treason charges began yesterday
In Paris, did not meet Count Won Lux
burg. former German Charge d'Affaires
and later Minister to Argentina, while
Caillaux was In Buenos Ayres In 1915.
Mr.. Becker said that whatever negotia-
tons were carried on between Caillaux
and Won Luxburg were transacted with
Count james Minotto, son-in-iaw Of Louis
F. Swift. Chicago packer. as the 60
between.
Mr.. Becker has q complete story from
Minotto OF the twenty six days NJ. and
Nine. Caillaux spent in Buenos Ayres.
Mlnotto was consteHtly IN their COM
pany. His story. in the form Of deposit
ton. has been sent to France for use at
the trial.
Mlnotto. who 10 in an internment camp
as n dangerous enemy allen. was social
climber" according to Mr.. Becker. and
his part in the alleged Caiilaux-Luxburg
intrigue that OF an Intermediary He
met Caillaux and his We in Rio do
Janeiro. and accompanied them on the
voyage to Buenos AyrsK
Believes Minetto Loyal.
The Deputy Attorney-General is not
inclined to attach Importance to Mlnotto's
m - n tia antanIA ~ ~ IN, q
voluntary deposition made q good i'm
preston. and Mr.. Becker ia inclined to
accept his statement that he IL loyal to
the United States.
Mr.. Becker was asked II Minotto's tes-
timony tended to support the French
Governmsnt's charges that Caillaux in
trigued to bring about a separate peace
between Germany and France and q
crisis in French politics that would en-
able him to regain power as his country's
savior He replied that while "incrimi-
mating was strong word. the testimony
OF Minotto betrayed the participate of
Caillsux in an "amasing indiscretion."
Mr. Becker said that Minotto appeared
to be endsavorinE honestly to assist the
American and French Governments He
added that he did not think Mlnotto was
ever a conscious agent Of the German
Government. He was In South America
In 1915 as the representative Of a New
York bank
The text OF Minotto's deposition will
not become public until the document ID
submitted at the trial OF Caillaux.
Session IL Only Preliminary.
PARIS, Oct 2s.-sittinx as a high
court the French Senate to-day began
Its sittings for the trial OF ex-Premier
CaiIlaux. Deputy Louis I,oustalot and
Paul Comfy. The accused persons were
not present. as the proceedings are only
preliminary.
The indictment against the three prls-
oners was read by the State prosecutor.
The court appointed committee to
study the enormous mass Of evidence
transmitted by the magistrates who
heretofore have been investigating the
case. There are more than 1000 docu-
ments.
When the committee has finished It's
inquiry in the court will resume its Sos
sions. 1t 10 not known how long the
committee may require to look over the
evidence.
Only a few persons were in the public
gallery. When the roll was called
elghty-nine Senators answered to their
names, showing that there were fifty-four
absentees. The legal representatives OF
the accused were not present. but NJ
Creca!d. NJ. Caillaux's counsel. was In
the public gallery.
The address of Theodore Lescouve, the
prosecutor. tonight takes up eight
closely printed columns in the Temps
The prosecutor concluded his address by
charging the accused men with havins
conspired against the external safety OF
WA ~ A,1I
with the enemy and by aiding enemy en-
terprises.
Would Have Caused Civil War.
N. Lescouve. during his presentation
OF the case. gave quotations from docu-
ments in u. Caillaux's handwriting
which were found In the safe OF q
bank In Florence. He said he did this
TO show that Caillaux considered the
French press more responsible for the
war than Germany. The prosecutor said
that Caillaux In April. 1918. believed the
war was lost, and that this defendant
always was more occupied concerning
the making OF peace than the winning
of the war. The programme Caillaux
had drawn up for France after peace
would have meant civil war. the prose-
cutor added.
NJ. Lescouve dealt ut length with
Count James Mlnotto, son-in-law OF
Louis F. Swift, a Chicago packer, who is
interned In the United States, but who
is alleged to have made q confession
concerning q plot engaged In by Call.
laux. Count Won Luxburs. former Ger.
man Minister to Argentina, and himself
TO disrupt the Entente alliance and bring
about a new war In which the Teutonic
allies, with France Italy and Spain
would be arrayed against Great Britain
and Russia The prosecutor gave a de.
tailed biography OF Minotto and traced
his relations with Baron Won Seebeck
son OF German officer, and Huge
Schmidt, Western United States aRen,
OF the Deutsche Bank OF Berlin, both O,
whom are interned in the United States
Conversations OF CaiIlaux while IN
Italy also were freely gone into by the
prosecutor, Caillaux was quoted q.
having said in Italy that the war could
not last until the autumn OF 1917, owine
to Frances lack OF raw material for the
manufacture OF munitions and because
OF revolutions IN Algeria and Senegal
MONTENEGRO FOR JIIcOST AVG