The Benson signal., 1918-01-05
PLOT AGAINST
U. S. is EXPOSED
PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA IN
VOLVED IN DISCLOSURE OF
LUXBURG .TELEGRAMS.
SECRET PACT PLANNED
STATE DEPARTMENT GIVES OUT
FURTHER FACTS ABOUT GER
MAN DIPLOMATIC TRIcKERY.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington.-The amazing story OF
how Count Luxburg, German charge
at Buenos Aires, used his official po-
sition to spy out prizes for German u
boats, ridiculed officials to whom he
daily was protesting the utmost
friendship, and held at his disposal
debauchery fund of at least half a
million dollars, was revealed by the
State Department.
Secretary of State Lansing made
public all of the cablegrams and mes
sages which Luxburg sent in code to
the German foreign office in Berlin
through the Swedish legation to Ar
gentina, with three exceptions. These
exceptions were withheld because they
dealt entirely with affairs of Chile
and Uruguay.
Accompanying the kilograms was a
communication from the Argentine
minister of foreign affairs saying that
they had been forwarded by him to
the Argentine ambassador in Wash
ington, DR.. Romulo S. Naon, who had
secured them from the State Depart
ment. He makes it plain that the
messages are for the most part with
out foundation in fact.
One of the cablegrams gives in de-
tail the sailing of three ships from Ar
gentina ports with their destination.
and a description of them, especially
bearing on their low visibility because
of their being deeply loaded.
Another tells Germany, as, already
has been made known, to express re-
gret that her submarine commander
was forced" to sink the steamer Toro
and saying that this action was due
to the vessel carrying contraband.
Through several of the messages is
sharp ridicule of the Argentina Off
cials with whom Count Luxburg came
in contact.
Indicating that Luxburg was at all
times in communication with German
submarines at sea or the great wire
has sent her wireless boats to victory
throughout the world, is another mes
sage in which he announces that the
receiving station has been installed
as per instructions"
On June 80 last, Luxburg reported
that his bank balance was $500,O0O.
Commenting on this officials Of the
State Department said possession of
such a huge sum was extraordinary
for man in the position of the Ger
man charge.
One of the messages revealed that
Luxburg had induced the President OF
Argentina to seek secret agreement
with Chile and Bolivia, a mutual ap-
proachment for protection against
North America.
It also showed that everything pos
sible had been done to have Peru
brought into such an agreement.
The correspondence deals largely
with efforts made by the German
minister to prevent any rupture Of re-
lations with Argentina, and through
out the dispatches there was warn
ing to his government to flatter the
Argentinians and to- word the note in
reply to the Argentine protest against
the sinking Of the steamer Toro In
such way as not to offend them.
Another of the Luxburg messages
boasted that he had succeeded in
reaching an understanding with Pres
ident Irigoyen. This proved particu-
larly offensive to Argentina, it is now
known.
Evidence of the apparent pliability
of the Argentine President and of the
opposition of Minister of Foreign AT
fairs Puerreydon is disclosed in many
Of the dispatches. Frequent reference
is made by the charge to difficulty
he was having in dealing with the fo4-
eign minister, but emphasis is placed
upon the ease with which he commu'
nicated with the President.
In a statement accompanying the
kilograms, the Argentine foreign min
lister announced that there were three
messages not published, as they re-
lated solely to Chile and Uruguay.
They have been delivered to those
governments.
An indication of the means used by
Count Luxburg to evade detection In
communicating with his government
is found in one dispatch where refer
ence is made to his fear that the "se-
cret wire'' had been discovered. An
other refers to an interruption Of his
wire.
The Concluding Message.
A telegram dated July 20 last an
nounced the completion of "receiv-
ing plant" and ask for the wave length
of the great wireless station at Nauen.
The concluding message. dated July
10, said:
GAS long as Chile is neutral Ger