New-York tribune., 1922-01-07
Rritain Insists
Speyer Profited
By Foe Trading g
Sir Edgar Found Guilty of
Flagrant Violation of His
Pledge, Says Report ON
Citizenship Revocation
Ignored Royal Command
Letter From Sister Exulting
in Cermany's Position Is
Quoted Against Banker

to-day issued in the form Of gov
eminent paper the report on which 81,
Edgar Speyer's naturalization was re-
Gently revoked. Among the allegation.
contained in the report are loan Of
$4,000 to man named Ware for the
benefit of the now nonresident "Bos
ton Journal details of Sir Edgar:
association with Carl Muck. former
conductor of the Boston Symphony Or
chestra, and with John Karen, Sit
Edgars trafficking and communication
with enemy subjects and his evasion
O: the British censorship.
The report, made to the Home Secre
tary by the Certificates OF Naturaliza
,ion Revocation Committee, enumcr
atcs against Sir Edgar eight charge:
OF improper conduct. The concluding
portion of the report says:
SO far as We have reported on hi.
association with the enemy and his
traffic or communication with enemy
subjects, we have to consider whethe,
We are satisfied that the continuance
If Si- Edgar's certificate is not con-
ducive to the public good. On this
point we can feel no doubt.
Position Emphasizes Charges
when the provisions of these stat
u.cs have been enforced against many
naturalized British subjects in humble
positions. it would, in our opinion, be
highly injurious to the public interest
il a different course we're taken in the
case of man in high position, who is
not only subject but a servant of
his majesty. After long, careful in
ouiry and full consideration we have
no doubt whatever as to the conclu-
sions at which we must arrive
The report reviews Sir Edgar's earl
ier life, mis- birth in New York, his
rarents' removal to Germany when he
was an infant, his education there and
his coming to London in 1887, being
then twenty-five years old. The report
rccounts his rise to position of great
power and influence as head of the
firm of Speyer Brothers, his charitable
activities, his creation as Baronet in
1906 and his becoming Privy Councillor
in 1909
The report says that shortly after
the outbreak Of the war Sir Edgar in
Cured much popular odium, "partly
due due to to his German name and race and
partly to the proGerman and anti
British sentiments expressed by his
brother, James Speyer. in New York"
The report recites how he was COM
peled to withdraw from hospital
boards and business undertakings, his
children being obliged to withdraw
from certain classes in school and he
himself being in danger OF personal
violence causing him and his house to
be placed under police protection.
This eliminated, the report continues,
in Sir Edgar writing to the British
Prime Minister in May. 1915. repudiat-
ing charges of disloyalty and request
ing permission to resign from the
Prvy Conncil, which the then Premier
Asquth refused. expressing personal
confidence in Sir Edgar. Sir Edgar
vent with his family TO Boston that
same month, where he resided.
Business Interests Recited
The report says Sir Edgar, with his
brother, James, and his brother-in-l law,
Herr Belt Won Speyer, We're partners in
three Speyer houses namely, at Frank
fort, Germany, New FORK and London,
which were intimately connected with
each other and with the Deutsche Bank.
Inc report continues:
"Sir Edgar immediately retired from
the German firm and Belt Won Speycr
from the British firm at the outbreak
OF the war Both however, continued
to be members of the neutral firm of
Speyer & Co., New York. Notwith-
standing a royal proclamation on
August 5, 1911, Sir Edgar made no mo-
tlon to retire from this firm, in which
nc was IN partnership with a German
and which was doing business with
Germany
After subsequent proclamation, the
report says. Sir Edgar consulted So
Ncitor and eventually retired from the
Sew York firm on October 5, 1914.
for considerable time, there
.sse, runs the report, "Sir Edgar re-
NAMED IN partnership with an enemy
sno shared with him the profits Of
en;eg sm;oIng with Germany, and he relin-
gusned that position with obvious re-
luctance and on compulsion. In this
matter Sir Edgar SENS to us to have
pielerred private financial interests to
the state
,negardlng the dealings the London
Iom Io,s nao between February and June,
;;slo.. In exchange arbitrage in con-
s;., sa;ac1on with the New York firm and
vim the Teixeira, of Amsterdam, the
report says:
t,. OF Edgar should have known that
ts;S, Hse transactions would almost GER
c,"aIs ,as include, as they did in fact in
W,sus, traffc with Germans.
.ss, "s are satisfied that he knew the gen.
nature of these transactions.
ts.+ =, AS an expert financier, he knew
snss nsS .ne admission of Germans into
ahi. Transaction was not merely profit
n 10 tnem, but was of great benefit
n s.y germany as state in enabling her
4 smo" msseumulate in neutral countries large
IT," tvanes OF currencics in those coun-
thsr. "''n view to making purchases
no Enemy Dealings on Books
r.o"ss.g om"eso.unting how the Speyer Brothers
boots an examination of their
the 81. ~ the autumn of 1915, and how
trs,.a accountant reported he found no
rsnos. Ss OF dealings with the enemy, the
nod;s.ss as says: This report in no way
ths .es s. the opinion we formed upon
Nea.ss .s'ss above set out" 1t says Sir
Aor;i ,o1- On behalf of the London firm, in
eommxo, .olo, gave an undertaking not to
iadirs..,0cate by telegraph directly or
h;.. with persons in enemy coun-
~es. I'M honoe+ ~V~A