New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
lunod Doubts Possibility
of Secret German Pa.
pers Being Stolen With
out Discovery of'Crime'
Office Guarded
By U. S. Agents
Berne Legation Notified
of Tribune Revelations;
Investigation Promised

day by Louis II. Junod, Swiss Con-
sui here, when he read The Trib-
unes exclusive story of how five ad-
venturous Americans had rifled the
safe of the German Consulate, left
in custody of the local Swiss Consul,
end taken documents which proved
Of inestmablc value to the United
States in tracking secret agents of
the German government.
Mr.. Junod said: II was amazed
and surprised when l read The Trib-
une's story. 1t had never occurred
10 me that they had been stolen.
This makes my position very awk-
ward.
Il had no interest in those Ger
man documents. To me they were
simply material left in my care. I
considered it sacred trust. II the
safe has been rifled it was cleverly
done. The seals of the German Con-
sulate were placed on the receptacle,
and after that the seal of the Swiss
Consulate was added.
Doubts the Story
"Since reading the story have been
informed by a former employee of the
consulate that agents of the Depart
ment Of Justice were on guard day and
night during that period between April
ard July, 1917, when the safe is sup
posed to have been emptied. This
makes the affair seem impossible. Be-
sides, if the safe was emptied, what
vas the purpose of replacing the seals ?
Why should robbers bother about
seals?
81 do not believe the safe was en-
tered. The more / think about it the
more am inclined to find flaws in the
FEASIBILITY of this story.
81 am calling the attention of the
Swiss to this article. Also I am going
TO examine the safe in an effort to de-
tect whether it has been tampered
WITH"
Mr.. Junod was frankly distressed
over the discovery, and was most anx-
lous that no doubt be left in the minds
Of any one as to the impossibility of
the seizure having been effected with
me connlvance of any attaches Of the
Swiss Consulate. The Consul tele-
graphed his superior, the Swiss Min
ister at Washington, asking him to
lead the Tribune story. He also got
INTO communication with former en-
pIoyee OF the consulate, who was in
cnarge OF the Offices on the ninth floor
Of IL Broadway at the time the safes
were emptied of their contents.
German Consulate Offices
these Offices were the quarters of
me German Consulate up to the break
,hg OF diplomatic relations between
1ermany and the United States. After
'Ast the Swiss Consul took charge, and
sign vas placed on the door that
read; downtown Office Consulate of
switzerland"
Mr. Junod discussed the story with
airlnune reporter twice yesterday
afternoon The first time he was thor
ougniy resigned TO the fact that the
soooery had taken place precisely as
Inscribed, but distressed at the posi-
e'ity that IN some quarters he might
Swiss. " e''eA'
Later IN the afternoon he solicited
shotner interview, and this time he ex-
p.s'neo That he had noticed on a more
.afelul perusal of the article that the
saNfprlse was said to have been car
''vq out between April and July, 1917.
ne said that he had telephoned to a
iormer employee of the consulate who
haa been in charge of the work of car
lug ior German interests at that time
G'i a1u mat this man expressed complete
ttsoeilef In the possibility of the safes
ing oeen rlfted IN the manner de-
S'rIoed IN the Tribune article.
lhls disbelief was grounded on the
act The Tribune was informed. that
S.s"een April and July, 1917. a guard
nas maintained day and night by De-
sss.eAeht OF Justice agents over the of
. ..ss IN II Broadway. Moreover, this
.,hmp'oyee Informed the Swiss Consul
c a' he had examined the seals on the
uerman safes frequently and minutely
."u was convinced they had not been
'ampered with.
nine article in yesterdays Tribune
W'ls in detail how the safes were
s speaed without injuring the seals. Ar
s.ee'rlcal contrivance that drew it's
poyed, 'o'"e' WAS en-
.,W, vs working part of this consisted OF
tvo shaped instrument between the
sro prongs of which was stretched s
wv w're. This wire. when heated by
asa.I II'cctric current, was passed under
,bss" the surface of ..>e seals wher,
ssss adhered TO the fiat surface Of tn,
Telltale Marks Effaced
ANA instead Of trying to remove the seal.
tan. unwind the red, white and blacl
M winch was cluttered about the saf.
,hs ha .ed to the handle, the men who tool
ss,, sae documents removed the little in
nS.oie cotter-pin which held the gri,
H. H., o. each safe handle in place Thel
~ ~ whole mass of tape was slipped owe,
SS Knob Of the handle.
.n..nnee handle, the article said, showed
bsns blemishes where the pins hat
vsra sm removed and these telltale marks
lit.lee liitse efaced by the application of {
~ nickel plating solution.
pnt;i gre Is good reason to believe tha
nssa Yesterday morning Mr.. Junoc
Sysl sh,S;. mad given thought to the pos
enn.y ety OF anybody entering the safe,
issainlng the German documents. A,
Sss.sas az the government Of the United
1878 Is concerned there was no rea
So ~ 20 expect anything but protection
Continued on page three