Imperial Valley press., 1941-04-10

WASHlNlI1 1ON, April ~ -WilSii
the State Department got ready to
move in and request the withdrawal
of Admiral Alberto Lais, naval at
tache of the royal Italian embassy
in Washington, all they had TO do
was look back in their files to
December, 1915 and bring out the
exchange of communications be-
tween the then secretary OF state,
Robert Lansing, and German Am
hassador Count Won BernStorff, over
the recall of the notorious Captains
von Papan and Boy-Ed, the kaisers
military and naval attaches IN
America.
The formula was there, but ben
efiting by the experiences of those
earlier cases, there was no monkey
ing this time. The issue was put
souarelv up to the Italians to re-
call the admiral Immediately AS
persona non grata', and while
there was no specific mention of
nllSdeeds in the note which Mr.
Hull sent to Ambassador Don As
canio del principi Colonna, the
Coast Guard had all the goods on
the admiral as chief inciter to the
recent Italian monkey wrench
throwing party in which the ltal-
ian ships machinery was Sabotaged
1t was a Coast Guard triumph,
by the way, and the G-men had
no share in the haul.
There were similar charges, only
worse, against the German Cap
tains Won Papen and Boy-Ed in
1915. for these two arch-plotters
were thought to be the brains of
widespread acts of dynamiting OF
railroads and bridges, bombing of
factories working on British and
French war orders, and in general
scheming to sabotage American
industrial production.
WANTED TO MAKE
SOMETHING OF IT
With the war then little more
than a year old, the United States
was trying to keep neutral, but
the United States was a bit green in
this game of European diplomacy
and when, on Dec. l, 1915, Secretary
Lansing suggested politely to Won
Bernstorff that the German at
taches be recalled, the ambassador
was inclined to argue about it.
A plea was made that Captain
Boy-Ed be permitted to talk to the
State Department about his case,
and when Lansing denied this, on
Sunday, Dec. 3, Won Bernstorff
asked for detailed charges. He got
an answer back the same day, even
if it was Sunday, denying the re-
quest. saying in effect that the
Germans knew what it was all
about. that the two schemerS were
no longer welcome and wouldn't the
German government please 90
ahead with the recall
There was no answer for five
days, so Lansing reminded Von
Bernstorff of the case and got re-
suits. On Dec. Is Safe-conducts
were requested TO pass the con-
spirators through the British
blockade and lines, and on Dec
18 passes were given fog the two
captains and their servants, but
it took 18 days to get them on
their way.
Reference to these two caseE
gave the State Department its
course in the case Of Italian Ad-
miral Lais, but the action was for
titled by two laws passed in 1917
Strangely enough, the acts were
passed in order 10 protect the ship.
of any nationality from sabotage
while in our ports, and to prevent
the use of ships in United States
ports as centers Tor organizing sab
Otage.
FACE 20-YEAR
TERMS
The first act provides for fint
Of $4,000 or 20 years or both. The
second $4,000 or two years ol
both. These are the acts undeI
which the crew members and of
ficers will be prosecuted by thu
Department of Justice. Admira
LaiS, being on diplomatic service
could not be prosecuted, and there
fore his recall was the only actor
possible.
Decision to ask for the admiral.
recall was made on Wednesday
The letter was drafted during tht
day, approved by the state De-