The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-07
PLOT REVEALED .
TO INVOLVE u. s.
WITH JAPANESE
Lid Is Removed From the
Maze of Germany's Pre-
War Moves.
WANTED CAPITAL PAPER
Use of Washington "Post" for
Period of War for $780,
900 Was Proposed.
WANTED CAPITAL PAPER
Special Despatch to THE Sun.

OUU was IFOpOSeu.
Special Despatch to THE Sun.
WASHINGTON. Dec 6.-With the ne
cesslty for further secrecy gone the
Department of Justice lifted the lid
to-day OH data in its possession upon
the operations of pro-German indu
ence in the United States prior to
American entry into the war. Be
fore the subcommittee OF the Sen
ate Judiciary Committee A. Bruce
Bielaski, head OF the bureau Of In
vestlgations, treated the committee to
a series of the most amazing revela-
tions 1t has yet heard.
Activities Of not only the German
professional propagandlsts under the
direction of Count Won Bernstorff,
then German Ambassador here, but
of American citizens in the pay Of the
Berlin Government were revealed by
Mr.. Bielaski, ranging up to Il sur
prising plan to take the attention Of
the American people away from
European affairs by trying to embroil
them with Japan.
Discharged From Army.
l.
laski to have been in the direct pay of
the German Government-he quoted
from documents now in the possession
Of the Department OF Justice to prove
twas the author Of the astounding
plan, the details of which he had
worked out TO some extent.
Fox, who was an American news
paper correspondent at one time. was
recently discharged from the Ameri-
can Army because his presence was
considered dangerous, according to the
Department OF Justice witness.
Fox wrote to Capt. Won Papen. then
Naval Attache of the German EN-
bassy, and exposed with Capt. BoyEd
as the guiding genius or the Teuton
propaganda In America prior to 1917.
giving him the details OF the means
he would employ TO get the American
Government into difficulties with
Japan. to check the growing pro-Ally
sentiment in the United States and
turn the eyes OF the American people
in another direction.
Fox. Mr.. Bielaski said. wrote TO Won
Papen that not only would war scare
with Japan and the United States as
flaA hnn fUnr nNNu fols
from Europe and sympathy away from
the allied cause but would stop the
shipments Of munitions TO the Allies.
Mr.. Bielaski produced documents TO
show the efforts made by the German
Government. through DR. Heinrich AL
bert and the German Embassy, to buy
American newspapers for the further
ance of pro-German propaganda TO in
! fiuence American public sentiment.
Washington Post" Involved.
! To this end Mr.. Bielaski introduced
confidential despatch sent from the
German Embassy by Count Won Bern
storff October II, 1914, which Mr. Bic
! laski allowed TO speak for itself. This
despatch was as follows:
| Imperial Embassy, Washington. Oc-
| tober II, 1914.
! Strictly confidential for Dernburg
| and privy counsel for Albert: Wash
| ton Post was offered me to-day to
! buy for 100000 with intention to
! buy il back again after the war for
/ 81 100000. A second offer was TO put
! the paper entirely at our disposal
for two months for 100000. The pa
! per is Of importance as the only
| large newspaper OF the capital. How
! do you stand on the question OF the
! money? l have not yet inquired in
Berlin. tSigned) BERNsroRFr.
/ The disappointment OF the embassy
/ in a sudden change OF owneJship and
! control OF the newspaper in question
was shown to the committee In the
/ following decoded report whicn was
/ sent by DR.. Albert A. Fuehr. secretary
of the German information service. to
the Foreign Office In Berlin under
date Of August 2. 1916:
The Washington Post, whose neu-
trail attitude toward the belllger-
| ents drKing the present war has
| won for It warm recognition from
/ the German side, has OF late ma
terially changed its tone in questions
OF European politics and seems fairly
| on the way to Join our enemies.
Russian influence Used.
From reliable sources / learn that
this change of front is due to the
Russian Ambassador In Washington.
After the death of its former owner,
John r Mclean, the Washington
Post, together with the Cincinnati
| Enquirer, came into the hands Of the
son Of the first mentioned, Ed Nc
Lean. on whom his aunt, Nine.
Bakhmetieff, Is said to have great
influence.
Mr.. Mclean, Jr, inaugurated his
ownership by naming as editorial
director one Bill Spurgeon. who Is
said to be d British subject and a
nephew OF Robert p. Porter. one OF
the chief leaders OF the Northclitfe
firing.
/ The name OF Samuel Cntermyer.
New York, was brought into the in
vestigAtion for the first time In con-
nection with negotiations for an un-