South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-08

three young men 10 the home OF the
spy. He was found guilty and SEN
fenced 10 death on Dec. 20. 1917.
but on Jan. .. 1918. his sentence
was committed to ten years i'm
prisonment. His citizenship is ques-
toned by the state department, be-
cause OF his long expatriation
On April 20. 1918. the Swiss min
lister presented 10 the state depart
ment the following note from the
German government:
Condemned To Death.
ON Dec. 10, 1917, the merchant
and Interpreter. Siegfried Paul Lon
don. citizen Of the United states.
was condemned 10 death by a court
martial at Warsaw for war treason
as a spy. The governor general OF
Warsaw. exercising judicial Glenn
ency on Jan. 2. 1913, conmuted this
sentence TO ten years penal servi-
tuje According TO facts estab-
lished at the rt-martiaI. London
obtained citizenship in the year
1887. He is married 10 an Ameri-
can citizen, Mary Leon Hard.
London was found guilty be-
cause. for the period from the be-
ginning OF the War until about MAY,
1915, he served the enemy as a spy.
He was arrested on this account as
early as August %. 1915. He sue
ceeded. however, in escaping, but
was recaptured on sept. "a. 1917.
For this reason the chief proceed
ings against him took place only re-
Gently.
up to the present time, the eff
forts of the German government to
effect an Improvement in the situa-
ton OF Capt.-Lieut. Rintelen. who
passed into the hands of the Ameri-
can authorities by reason Of acts OF
the British government contrary 70
international law have been unsuc-
cessful. The attempt 70 bring a halt
to the criminal proceedings brought
against him in America and TO Sc
cure his release, has likewise been
without result. In order 70 lend
greater emphasis TO the protests
which have been LODGED with the
American government. the German
government Contemplates some ap-
propriate measures Of reprisal. 1t
would have preferred TO avoid the
contingency that persons be taken
and made TO suffer because the gov
eminent Of the United States was
apparently not sufficiently cognizant
of it's international obligations to-
ward a German subject.
Would Exchange Prisoners.
Before making a definite deci-
sion, the German government be
lieves it should propose 10 the gov
eminent of the United States, that
Capt.-Lieut. Rintelen be set at lib
erty by exchange for the American
citizen. Siegfried Paul London. who
was condemned to death for espion-
age and whose sentence was later
committed to ten years penal servi-
tude and that Capt.-Lieut. Rintelen
be permitted forthwith TO return 10
Germany. should the government of
the United states agree to this pro
posal the German government would
take steps that London's uncomplet-
co term Of Imprisonment be RENTED
and that he be set at liberty in or
der that he may Immediately leave
the country"
To this communication Sec'y
Lansing sent the following reply
throush the Swiss minister:
Il have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt OF your memorandum of
April Is. 1918, communicating a
translation Of note verbal from
the German government. transmit
ted by the Swiss political depart
ment. proposing the exchange OF
Capt.-Lieut. Franz Rintelen for
Siegfried Paul London. an allesed
American citizen condemned TO ten
years penal servitude in Germany.
The German government threatens
measures OF reprisal If RinteIen Is
not released or exchanged for Lon
don.
L. =. Refuses Exchange.
"In reply / have the honor 10 ad-
wise YOU that this government can
not consider the exchange OF Rim
telen for London. nor can IL con-
slider the release OF Rintelen nor in
reference In the due process Of law
in his case
..rrT-, tb~a,t Of tho German GOV