Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09
u. S. 'STOLEN-NOTE'
MYSTERY DEEPENS
AttaChe in Mexico City En-
Route Here on "Con-
fidentiaI Mission"

Lieut. Col. Edward Davis, military
attache to the American embassy In
Mexico City, Is en- route to Washing
ton ION a confidential mission" it was
confirmed at the War Department to-
day in the face of unofficial reports
that military papers of highly con.
fidential nature had been purloined
from the embassy files and turned
over to President Gales. He Is due TO
arrive here Tuesday.
Other than to say that Col. Davis
himself is under absolutely no sus-
picion, the War Department officials
declined to discuss rumors that his
mission Is to assist in an investigation
to determine responsibility for the
leakage said to have been traced to
the military attaches office.
Confidence In Davis.
They added that both Col. Davis and
his assistant, Maj Harold Thompson.
retain the utmost confidence Of the
department.
Inquiries at the state Department
today We're met with the response
that neither Secretary Kellogg nor
any other official would discuss the
matter either Ito deny or confirm"
the alleged pilfering of the United
States Governments correspondence,
which was divulged, according to re-
ports, by President Gales, who. when
the fact that he had them became
known, delivered them to the State
Department.
Further inquiries as to whether this
situation dove-tailed with the So
called mystery note as reported
seemed TO cause some amusement to
officials, but ELECTED no explanation.
SO far as can be learned today.
neither the naval attache in Mexico
City, Lieut. Comdr Donald w. Hamil
ton, nor any other embassy attache
has been summoned to return TO
Washington.
State Department officials seemed to
prefer to leave the whole matter open
to surmise rather than shed any light
on the situation about which there Is
maze of unconfirmed rumors.
Total Placed at 800.
Unconfirmed reports stated that the
papers involved numbered some 100
official documents from the military
attaches office and 200 others obtained
from the embassy proper. These latter
included correspondence that had
passed between the State Department
and Ambassador Sheffield over a con-
siderable period.
1t is not believed here that any of
the papers were taken from the diplo-
matte mail pouches in transit to MeXi-
co City because of the unusual pre-.
cautions against such possibilities.
Those in q position to know the
State Department rule governing code
messages throw doubt on reports that
the contents of the correspondence
had been decoded and transmitted to
President Gales. 1t was explained that
in connection with all highly confiden-
tial correspondence the code used is
destroyed.
Caused Mystery Note"
According to some reports certain
messages had been rewritten, after
being decoded, so as to make it appear
to Gales that the United States Gov
ernment was in sympathy with the
revolutionary movement in Mexico.
Upon finding this attitude, which as
directly in contrast with sentiments
expressed openly by the State De-
partment, President Gales is said to
IidFS LdhGIi th0 0p Will
can officials.
The forgeries, 1t was explained,
brought about a situation which re.
suited in the exchange of the so-called
mystery notes" some time ago.
When President Gales learned that
he had been deceived, evidently by
forged correspondence, it was said, he
called the matter to the attention of
the State Department and turned over
what ever papers he had In his pos
session.
Officials Still Silent.
The investigation, which no one Of
the War Department or the State De-
partment denies is to be made, un-
doubtedly would pry into reports that
President Gales paid $4,000 for the
information he is said to have OBJ
tanned through the Embassy leak. At
the same time there is no information
obtainable here through a reliable
source to indicate whether anyone
connected with the Embassy had ac-
cepted any bribe.
Pending the arrival here of Col
Davis Tuesday there is little likelihood
of the State Department officials dis
cussing the matter at all.