The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-15
GOT EVIDENCE IN U. S.
Arrest of ex-PreInier of France Fol-
lowed Message from Lansing.


Paris. Jan. 15.-The arrest yester-
day OF Former Premier Caiilaux was
due principally to a cablegram from
Secretary Lansing at Washington say
ing that in 1915 NJ Caillaux had been
in communication with the Berlin for
eign Office
Arrest a Sensation in Paris.
Paris. Jan. 15.-The arrest of
Former Premier Caillaux is COM
mented on at great length by the
newspapers of Paris which in general
take the view that the government
would not have decided upon this ac-
ton if it had not obtained evidence OF
the gravest character.
Most of the newspapers welcome the
governments action. Even organs
like the Hunanite and the Radical,
which are inclined to sym pathize with
N. CaillauX, do not openly condemn
his arrest, contenting themselves with
saying that the government must have
overwhelming proofs to justify it and
demanding that this evidence be pro-
duced.
Secretary Lanstng's cablegram stated
that the American representative al
Buenos Aires had been able to estab-
lish that VI. Caillaux- during his visit
to Argentina in 1915, had been in
communication with the Berlin for
eign office thru Count Won Luxburg,
then German minister to Argentina,
with the object of concluding peace
with Germany at any price SO as to
permit the resumption of business
1t IS understood this evidence will
be published in America Immediately.
The investigation of the italian con-
nections of former Premier Caillaux,
who was arrested yesterday, Is said by
the Matin to have resulted in the dis
covery of important military and po-
Etica1 papers in the safe of the bank
at Florence which was rented under
the maiden name of Madame Caillaux
and used by the former premier dur
ing his visit to Italy in Decent err
1916. Among the political papers
found in the safe, the newspaper as
serts, were a number of notes which
NJ CaillauX. in the expectation of gain
ing office as premier, drafted abb
net designed generalissiIslo and
sketched various exceptional meas
ures. These measures included the
arrest of certain politicians and gen
erals. among whom Premier Clemen-
ceau is said to have been one, and the
dismissal of number of officials.
In addition4to these says the Matin
there were documents of military
character which by their very nature
seem to constitute the strongest evi-
dence against N. Caillaux.
NJ Cailiaux sailed for South Amer
lea in November. 1914, going first to
Brazil and then to Argentina. Some
thing of a mystery was made of his
trip The general explanation was
that he had been entrusted with an
economic mission, but it was reported
that the French governments real
purpose was to bring about his re-
moval from France on account of the
feeling against him in certain
quarters. Later he made a visit to
the Hague which attracted attention
because of presence at the same time
OF members of the German reichstag.
Shortly afterward came his trip TO
Rome
Lansing Mum on French Case
Washington. Jan I5.-Secretary
Lansing today refused to affirm or
deny or comment upon the foregoing
dispatch from Paris. There seems to
be no doubt whatever that some such
dispatch is contained in the captured
Luxburg Jurisprudence. Early today
there was no immediate prospect of its
being given out for publication here
It's Another Luxburg BombsheIL
Inasmuch as the Caillaux case is in
a judicial state, the United States will
not publish any documents upon it
which have not been arranged for in
advance with the French government
So Tar as can be learned. no such ar
engagements have been perfected to
day, but the dispatch and many others
undoubtedly will be given out il
France requests it
This is the first hint that the Lux
burg correspondence contained any
thing pertaining to the CaiIlaux case
The disclosure aroused speculation as
to how many other international
bonn bshells might be contained in the
kilograms of Germany's minister to
BuenoS Aires The disclosures made
so far by the state department, it is
known. have not exhausted the supply
of captured kilograms The full ma
ture of the reserve is mystery