EXPOSURE OF DUPLICITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17105, 10 September 1917, Page 5

EXPOSURE OF DUPLICITY

SWEDISH MINISTER INVOLVED

INTERESTING DISCLOSURES.

LONDON, September 8. Tho Higli Commissioner reports that it is officially announced that the Svvedisli Minister in the Argentine has been convicted of duplicity by sending and receiving German code messages relating to submarines. REVELATION OF GERMAN CUNNING. SENSATIONAL RUMOURS. Reutor's Telegrams. WASHINGTON, September 8. (Received Sept. 9, at 11.5 p.m.) Copies of official despatches sent to the Berlin Foreign Office by Count Luxburg (German Charge D'Affaires at Buenos Aires) in cypher through the Swedish Legation there as its own communications have been made public by Mr Lansing without any comment as to how they fell into the United States Government's hands. Copies have also been delivered at tho Argentine Embassy and the Swedish Legation here. Besides revealing means by which Germany used the Swedes, and her machinations in the Argentine, the despatches show how the German Charge D'Affaires at the time the Argentine was having a critical diplomatic controversy with Germany over the submarining of her ships was sending through the Swedish Legation information regarding the sailings of certain vessels with a recommendation that they should be sunk without leaving anj trace, and other despatches informing his Government how to regard the Argentine's protests against the destruction of her shipping. Following the publication of the documents rumours that diplomatic relations with Sweden might bo severed, have caused a sensation. ~ ✓ MESSAGES PUBLISHED. Router's Telegrams. WASHINGTON, September 8. (Received Sept. 9, at 11.20 p.m.)

The text of "Count Luxburg's messages has been published. On May 19 he cabled from Buenos Aires, stating that the Government and released German and Austrian ships which had hitherto been guarded, and that there had been a great change of public feeling. He asked that the steamers Oran and Guzo, which were then nearing Bordeaux, might be spared if possible or sunk without leaving a trace.

Cabling on July 3, he said he had learned that the Alinister of Foreign Affairs, who was a notorious ass and an Anglophile, had declared at a secret session of the Senate that the Argentine should demand from Berlin a promise to sink no more Argentine ships, and that if the demand was not acceded to relations would be broken off. He recommended a refusal, or, if necessary, mediation by Spain.

Cabling on July 9 he advised postponing a reply to the Argentine until further reports, as a change of Ministry was probable. As regards Argentine steamers, he recommended either compelling them to turn back, sinking them without leaving a trace, or letting them through.