New-York tribune., 1918-09-25
Records in Spy's Case Say
Brother in Law Gave
Option on News Plant
konta Is Dropped
Overheard by Creel
Hungarian Arranged Anti
Ally Meeting Only Two
Months Ago

More of Alexander Konta, step
father Of Arthur Brisbane's counsel.
In Hearst's "Now York American" yes
terday morning he attacked by innuendo
A. Mitchell Palmer, the Alien Property
Custodian, who published last week
data and correspondence involving
Arthur Brisbane;
German American brewers who
bought "The Washington Times" for
Brisbane;
konta, the ready letter writer:
Dernburg, the kaiser's propa gandist,
and
DR.. Heinrich Albert. manager Of the
German governments spy and reptile
fund in the United States.
In his "New York American article
konta refers to the celebrated Albert
documents printed in "The World''
three years ago to expose the machina-
tions Of pro-Gcrman propaganda. This
is very interesting.
An examination of the Albert docu-
mcnts. now in the possession Of the
government, discloses the forgotten
fact that in one Of them Brisbanc's :
brother law, Courtland Smith. was
named as the person who was ready to
turn over to German agent the Amer
ican Press Association, which he con-
trolled. The price was to be 5000 600.
Contract With Hun Agent Admitted
Brisbane's brother-in-law, in making
denial at the time. admitted his con-
Germ was under contract with the Ger
man agent in question, Al. b. Claussen,
to use German news. which was
sent out by Claussen to pro- German
newspapers.
The first document relating to Bris-
banc's brotherin-law in the Albert case
is a letter of Claussen TO Dir. Albert.
II reads:
"Mr. c. (Courtlandl Smith, the
president of the American Press AS
sociation, controls majority OF
stock Of the American Press Asso-
citation. have impressed upon Mr..
Smith that if ! am able to raise the
amount of money it Will be neces-
sary to keep the matter absolutely
secret, and that he must remain as
president of the corporation for at
least one year, and possibly two, in
order to properly install the news
service throughout the United States.
To this Mr.. Smith agreed, his salary
being the same as he now receives,
$4,000 a year"
Claussen wrote DR.. Albert that the
American Press Association reached
10000 newspapers throughout the
United States, or onehalf the total
number, and that it maintained an i'm
portant advertising department.
Strict Secrecy Enjoined
81 desire to point out Claussen
wrote further, that il this proposition
meets with the approval of the proper
authorities it is absolutely necessary
that the fewcst possible individuals
have knowledge of the transaction.
may add that Mr.. Smith is a man of
the highest standing and ability. and
while he is willing to sell the control
ling interest, and to continue in the
work of building up a news service
through the ticker. he would be the
last man to part with his holdings if
he thought that the organization, which
was created By his father. would be
put 20 any wrong purpose; By that !
mean anything That would be un
American"
Claussen also wrote to Director
Ecker, the head Of another bureau of
the German propaganda in this country
urging the purchase of tic American
Press Association and opposing the es-
tablishmcnt of a new organization
Clausscn wrote:
The time is not opportunc IN this
country TO start a news organiza-
tion which would at once arousn
suspicion and would become. like ,hc
Wolff Bureau. known as a German
organizations and would be so quoted
in the press throughout the country"
The next document is q memorandum
(Continued on last poge)