GERMAN DIPLOMATS

Evening Star, Issue 16079, 3 April 1916, Page 3

GERMAN DIPLOMATS

ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO. Tho first document printed in the United States White Paper on tho recall of Von Papen is a significant letter to Von Papen endorsed "Secret," and signed by R. Von Wild, of the Ministry of War, Berlin. It la dated March 12, 1914. and roads as follows : According to newspaper reports, several railway trains were blown up by revolutionaries during the- troubles in Mexico. In order to form an opinion whether, in the event of a European war, explosions of this kind would have to be reckoned with, it is requested that, if possible, information should be obtained as to how these attacks have been carried out. Were mines and explosives placed on lines which were little guarded, or were the attacks carried out from the train by igniting a, charge of dynamite, or by the employment of infernal machines? Apparently, when this communication reached America, Von Papen was on a special mission to Mexico, and it was not until the following July that he was able to reply. He wrote: I am convinced from personal evid-enco that all the recent cases of destruction of railway lines by explosion were brought about by burying dynamite under the lino itself and then igniting it by an- electric current as soon as the train had reached the appointed place. I consider it out of the question that, explosions prepared in this way would have to be reckoned with m a European war. 'i'hey are only possible on lines that are ill-guarded, which, as in this country, often pass for miles through revolutionary districts, and have no protection o.her than a, pilot train ■ in front of the passenger train. Tho mountainous nature of the country and the highly artistic way in which the lines are laid (kunstvolle Tracierung) greatly tavor these attacks. Infernal machines, so far as I know, have never been employed. A hint as to the object of the visit to Mexico is provided in a letter to Von Papen from -Captain Boy-Ed, dated May 25, 1914: Your arguments made a great impression, not only on Count Bcmst-orff, but also on the Austrian jimbassador. At Bernstorff's suggestion your letter was confidentially communicated to the latter. In his reply Dumba said that your letter was remarkable for its terseness and lucidity. Eor my part, I was especially pleased by what you wrote about Huerta", the only strong man in Mexico. Li my opinion, Admiral Von Hinize (the German Minister in Mexico) was not quite right in his estimate of him. For Huerta cau scarcely be such a drunken ruffian as Hintze- so often implies, if only because a chronic drunkard could hardly have kept so uncertain a position under such vmoommonly difficult circumstances. 1 likewise do not share the views of our worthy admiral about the timeliness or the possibility of international intervention in Mexico. . . .