Evening star., 1942-10-12
SixArrests Bare
Axis Spy Ring
In Chile
Nozi Embassy Gave
Subs information,
High Authority Says
Earlier Story on Page Al.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

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BY BLAIR BOLLEs.
The arrest and confession of
six members of an Axis spy ring
operating in North and South
America demonstrated conclu-
sively that their secret informa-
ton had been going to Europe
and U-boat commanders in the
Atlantic from the German En-
bassy in Santiago, Chile, an au-
thoritative spokesman said to-
day.
The men arrested are one Luning,
under sentence Of death in Havana,
Cuba. where he was operating a
secret radio station that sent details
about United Nations ship move
ments to commanders of U-boats
in the Atlantic Ocean and Carib-
bean Sea and five men in Santiago,
Chile.
The facts in the spy-ring activities
are known to the American Govern
ment, it is said on the highest au-
thority.
Luning confessed that he got in
formation about ship movements
from Carlos Robinson in Santiago.
who, on his arrest, told police of
three others with whom he was CO.
operating.
Instructions From Spain.
These three disclosed that their
orders came from Alfredo Kleiber, a
Chilean prominent in society of
Santiago, who was a director of the
Banco Germanico. Kleiber said that
ne received his instructions in turn
from an unnamed Nazi agent in
Barcelona, Spain.
Kleiber admitted to police that
he sent the cables-in the guise of
innocent commercial messages-to
Luning In Havana, where the Axis
radio agent was arrested late in
September. l--.-..
The source, of this extraordinary
information said that the ramifica-
tions Of the spy ring in the United
States would have to remain a mill
tary secret. He declared the facts
brought forth by the confession of
the six men arrested were known
to the Chilean Foreign Minister,
BArros-Jarpa, when that official
contended it was impossible that
Axis agents in Chile could be con-
tributing to United Nations ship
losses.
Axis agents in Chile and Argen-
tina have been able to communicate
in code to Germany through the
diplomatic missions, it was said.
The Argentine governments an
nouncement that it was taking con-
troll Of tele-communications inside
Argentina and leading out OF Ar
gentina was interpreted by respon-
sible persons here as an effort by
the government in Buenos Aires,
to make it impossible for the COM
munications companies to forbid
their facilities use for Axis code
messages. However, the Chilean
government on Saturday issued a
prohibition against further dispatch
of Axis code messages.
Point to Welles Speech.
Disclosure of the spy-ring activi-
ties gives point to Undersecretary of
State Welles speech in Boston last
Thursday. He asserted that the
two American republics which still
maintained relations with the Axis,
Chile and Argentina-were permit
ing subversive agents to obtain and
transmit information in and from
those countries, that resulted in
sinking of United Nations ships.
1t was this speech that resulted
in the decision of President Rios
OF Chile to postpone his visit to
the United States. It was learned
that the United States Government
was not surprised by President Rios
decision and that the administra-
ton was anxious that the Chilean
government sever relations with the
Axis before President Rios visited
Washington.
The United States Government
had grown impatient because Chile
did not follow the resolution it
signed last January at Rio de ia
neiro, calling for a break in diplo-
matte relations with the Axis.
Had Promised Support.
1t was learned that the trip of
President Rios here was planned as
a consequence of a conversation
President Roosevelt had last sum-
mer with Ambassador Michels of
Chile, in which the Ambassador told
Mr.. Roosevelt that his President was
willing to take whatever action in
the diplomatic field that President
Roosevelt considered necessary.
Evidence mounted here that Pres
ident Rios has been dominated by
the attitude of his Foreign Minister,
whose brother-in-law is Chilean
Minister In Berlin.
1t is said, however, that there are
strong United Nations sympathies
within the Chilean government and
1t is hoped that in time these will
prevail in view Of Mr.. Welles' plain
speaking last Thursday.